Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced on Sunday that his country is interested in pursuing nuclear technology. Chavez said he would enlist the help of Iran in developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Venezuela possesses vast oil and natural gas reserves, substantial coal reserves, and ample hydroelectric power. Therefore it is not unreasonable to regard Venezuela’s nuclear ambitions as highly suspect.
Venezuela is one of the founding members of OPEC and is strongly aligned with the Islamic oil producing nations of the Middle East. President Hugo Chavez has repeatedly defended Iran in its dispute with the United States and Europe over its nuclear program, saying Iran has a right to atomic energy. Iran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes, but ample evidence exists contradicting those claims and the United States believes that Iran is attempting to obtain nuclear weapons.

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