Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez defended in an interview Wednesday his decision to cooperate with Iran to develop nuclear energy in his country.
Chavez told Le Figaro newspaper that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was an ally and a friend, speaking three days after he signed agreements to strengthen cooperation during a visit to Tehran.
"I thank him for the technology transfers from Iran to Venezuela. We signed a new agreement last week in Tehran," he said.
"Iran has the right to develop nuclear energy as do France and many other countries and why not Venezuela."
The U.S. and other Western powers along with Israel have accused Iran of trying to build a nuclear bomb under the cover of a civilian nuclear energy programme. Iran denies the claim.
"I am sure Iran is not working on production of a bomb. No one has provided any proof of that," said Chavez.
Chavez announced last week that Venezuela is working on a preliminary plan for the construction of a "nuclear village" with Iranian assistance to allow Venezuelans to benefit from nuclear energy.
After traveling to Libya, Algeria, Turkmenistan and Belarus, Chavez was due to begin a visit to Russia Wednesday.