By Sher Zieve – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is seeking to deepen its military and commercial ties with Iran. Venezuela is speaking with Iran about holding joint military exercises and is also talking with the Hamas-run Palestinian Authority for possible Venezuelan funding.

The Washington Times’ Rowan Scarborough reports: “…in October that the Chavez government had made overtures to Iran about obtaining nuclear technology”. The Times also reports that a senior Bush Administration official commented: "Hugo Chavez has been clearly talking to Iran about uranium."