Iran, Venezuela leaders mock US disapproval

CARACAS, Venezuela - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez on Monday mocked US disapproval and joked about having an atomic bomb at their disposal.

Despite their geographical distance, the two countries have forged increasingly close ties between their fellow OPEC nations in recent years, although concrete projects have often lagged behind the rhetoric.

"One of the targets that Yankee imperialism has in its sights is Iran, which is why we are showing our solidarity," Chavez said during a joint news conference. "When we meet, the devils go crazy," he said, mocking US warnings that Latin American nations should not help the Islamic Republic.