Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez denounced hegemonic powers’ efforts to make war threats and impose sanctions against independent nations

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez denounced hegemonic powers’ efforts to make war threats and impose sanctions against independent nations.

In a joint statement issued Monday in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, the two presidents denounced all acts of terrorism in the world and called for collective efforts by the international community to counter the “sordid phenomenon.”

President Ahmadinejad and his Venezuelan counterpart voiced support for the rightful demands of people in the region but denounced any foreign interference as the key element in aggravating regional crises.

The Iranian and Venezuelan presidents also expressed regret over the massacre of civilians and security forces in Syria, voiced support for the Syrian reform process and lashed out at global imperialism and the Israeli regime for their “blatant interference” in regional affairs.

President Ahmadinejad arrived in Caracas on the first leg of his official tour of several Latin American countries. His visit to Venezuela will be followed with a formal tour of Nicaragua to attend the inauguration of its recently re-elected leader Daniel Ortega.

During his five-day official tour of Latin America, the Iranian president is due to visit Cuba and Ecuador.