CARACAS, Sept 28: The leaders of Iran and Venezuela on Thursday cemented an alliance aimed at countering the United States while the Iranian president reached out to a new ally in Bolivia and declared that together, “no one can defeat us”.

After being vilified during his UN visit this week, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad travelled on to friendlier territory, first stopping in Bolivia _ where he pledged one billion dollars in investment _ and then visiting Venezuela to meet President Hugo Chavez.

’’Together we are surely growing stronger, and in truth no one can defeat us,’’ the Iranian leader said through an interpreter. Apparently referring to the U.S., he said: ‘’Imperialism has no other option: Respect the peoples (of the world) or accept defeat.’’

Hugo Chavez greeted the Iranian leader warmly on a red carpet in front of the presidential palace, where they both stood before microphones and let loose with rhetoric challenging Washington.

’’We will continue resisting to the end in the face of imperialism,’’ Ahmadinejad said. ‘’And the age of imperialism has ended.’’

Chavez embraced the Iranian leader, calling him ‘’one of the greatest anti-imperialist fighters’’ and ‘’one of the great fighters for true peace.’’

In his defiant speech to the U.N. General Assembly this week, President Ahmadinejad rebuked ‘’arrogant powers’’ seeking to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

Chavez also strongly defends Iran’s nuclear research, insisting it is for peaceful energy uses despite U.S. charges it is aimed at making nuclear weapons. The Venezuelan leader also says his country plans to eventually develop a nuclear energy program.Chavez said he was proud of Ahmadinejad’s courage while under hostile questioning at New York’s Columbia University. ‘’An imperial spokesman tried to disrespect you, calling you a cruel little tyrant. You responded with the greatness of a revolutionary.’’

In Bolivia, the Iranian leader pledged investment over the next five years to help the poor Andean nation tap its vast natural gas reserves, extract minerals, generate more electricity and fund agricultural and construction projects.—AP