Left, Right: Iran and Venezuela in Lockstep

Among the world leaders felicitating Iran’s president-elect, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, one head of state conspicuously set aside protocol norms – President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Though Ahmadinejad will only be formally sworn in on August 4 – and a congratulatory message through diplomatic channels at this stage was all that was required – Chavez telephoned Ahmadinejad.

Chavez was being deliberate in making an extraordinary gesture of warmth and camaraderie. He wished to personally convey to Ahmadinejad that the latter’s election had enhanced the “legitimacy” of Iran internationally, a country that Venezuela would regard as a “friend and brotherly nation” on the world stage. He said he would depute a high-level delegation from Caracas to visit Tehran specially to be present at Ahmadinejad’s swearing-in ceremony, and that he would visit Tehran in the near future, aiming at a “comprehensive expansion” of cooperation between the two countries.
Asia Times Online