Venezuela says it is not Iran’s “base” in Latin America
Updated: Wednesday, November 04, 2009
15:30GMT—10:30AM/EST
Washington, 4 November (WashingtonTV)—Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday rejected an Israeli allegation that it had become Iran’s “forward base” in Latin America.
Speaking at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, a think tank, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon described Caracas as Tehran’s leading ally in South America.
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry condemned the comments as “aggression against its people”, and said they were a “sign of the vile, meddling and aggressive attitude” of Israel, reports AFP.
Venezuela broke off diplomatic ties with Israel in January 2009, in protest to Israel’s 22-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez is a close ally of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and he has supported Tehran’s nuclear program.
US officials have also voiced concern over Iran’s inroads in Latin America.
Source: Agence France-Presse
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