Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mohammad Khatami took turns attacking the United States Friday in Caracas during a state visit by the Iranian leader.

In a speech to Venezuela's National Assembly, Mr. Chavez declared that Iran has every right to develop atomic energy, and promised to oppose any U.S. efforts to stop Iran. Washington accuses Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons.

In Mr. Khatami's speech to the lawmakers, he denounced terrorism while condemning what he called "crimes of liberty," specifically citing the U.S. Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq and ongoing detentions at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba.

On other issues, the presidents of two oil producing countries signed a number of cooperation agreements relating to oil, taxes, commerce and construction.