Iran Expresses Interest in Assisting Venezuelan Nuclear Program

Iran would be open to helping Venezuela develop nuclear technology, but the two countries have not yet held any talks about such cooperation, a top Iranian lawmaker said on Wednesday. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been a vocal supporter of Iran's nuclear program.

"Although we have not had any conversations until now with Venezuelan authorities, we would be willing to study the possibility," Iran's parliament speaker, Gholamali Haddadadel said.

Venezuela is the world's number 5 oil exporter, last year said it was interesting in developing nuclear technology. Experts say any such development could take as long as ten years.