Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pledged Friday to keep together and manage to battle "imperialism"

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pledged Friday to keep together and manage to battle "imperialism," with Chavez criticizing tough sanctions on Tehran.
  
Upon his arrival in Caracas from Brazil, where he attended Rio+20 summit on sustainable development, Ahmadinejad said: "We will build our countries, and we will get away from all the pressures of imperialism." Chavez responded: "We know the effort you must put in to overcome the obstacles imposed on you by imperialism -- blockades, threats, unilateral sanctions." The pair then headed into talks with their key ministers, AFP reported.
  
Ahmadinejad and Chavez Saturday inaugurated 384 residential units constructed by Iranian companies in Venezuela, IRNA news agency said.

The residential units were inaugurated via video conference on the sidelines of the talks held between the two countries' high-ranking delegations in Caracas.

During the inauguration ceremony, President Ahmadinejad voiced the Islamic Republic of Iran's willingness to share its valuable experiences in the field of housing construction with the friendly Venezuelan nation.

Chavez, for his part, said inaugration of the joint project would benefit both countries.

Chavez has also expressed "solidarity" with Iran as it faces growing pressure from the West over its suspect nuclear program.