Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sunday.

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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad begins a four-nation Latin America tour

His trip is meant to strengthen ties between Iran and the region

Ahmadinejad will also visit Nicaragua, Ecuador and Cuba this week

Caracas, Venezuela CNN  — 

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Venezuela on Sunday, his first stop on a four-nation trip to Latin America meant to strengthen ties between Iran and the region.

He arrived about 6:30 p.m. ET, and was met at the airport by Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua.

Ahmadinejad walked off the plane and down a red carpet, flanked by officials in white uniforms, images on state television showed.

It’s no coincidence that Venezuela is Ahmadinejad’s first stop on a four-nation Latin America tour this week. Despite their cultural differences, Venezuela and Iran have found significant common ground: Both are among the world’s top crude oil exporters, and their leaders are strong allies united by a fierce opposition to what they describe as U.S. imperialism.

Over the years, the two nations have signed more than 270 accords, including trade deals and agreements on construction projects, car and tractor factories, energy initiatives and banking programs.

See more details about Iran’s Latin America ties

Chavez has also helped the Islamic republic forge relationships with other members of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas, an eight-nation regional bloc Chavez founded.

Even before he arrived, Ahmadinejad’s plans for a Latin American tour grabbed global attention, as tensions grow between many Western powers and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Diego Arria, an opposition politician, described the trip as a “provocation” to the United States and an embarrassment for Venezuela.

“It comes at the worst moment – at a time when Ahmadinejad is being looked at by the international community with great fear. … It’s bringing the threat to the United States closer to home,” he said.

The Iranian president is scheduled to visit Nicaragua, Cuba and Ecuador later this week as part of his five-day tour.

CNN’s Luis Carlos Velez contributed to this report.