(Image Source: Iran's Presidential Website) 

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY
ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

Visiting four Latin American countries in five days. That’s Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s itinerary this week. As Iran faces increasing economic sanctions from the U.S. and Europe, the media are saying Ahmadinejad’s trip is a quest to strengthen ties with its allies.
 

His first stop — Venezuela. Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are known to share similar anti-American views. (Video: Al Jazeera)
 

And CNBC highlights something else the two countries share: their significant oil production.
 

“They’re OPEC friends. Venezuela produces some 3 million barrels a day and you add that to Iran’s 3.5-5 million and you are already looking at a good chunk of the global demand. If they are to work together in the face of increasing isolation, they could really put up a resistance.”

On Monday, the Obama administration announced it’s expelling one Venezuelan diplomat who it alleges talked to Mexican hackers about possible cyber attacks against the U.S. government. An analyst for Fox News ties this incident with Ahmadinejad’s visit.

“It has not been verified that the Venezuelan government took these discussions with some Mexican hackers seriously. But I think you have to keep in mind is the point that you mentioned, the timing of this expulsion. It comes right at the time when Iran’s president is in Venezuela. And it’s this alliance between Venezuela and Iran. A growing tie both economic and military. It really has the U.S. administration concerned, Jenna.”

After Venezuela, Ahmadinejad is set to visit the capitals of Ecuador, Nicaragua and Cuba. Al Jazeera notes the Ecuadorian and Nicaraguan presidents share similar ideological views with Venezuela’s Chavez. It highlights those countries Ahmadinejad isn’t visiting.

Al Jazeera: “A former Venezuelan diplomat who served under Chavez says the number of Latin American countries Ahmadinejad is not visiting, says something about his relations with those leaders.”
Diplomat: “Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia... countries with very distinct politics and points of view, haven’t invited Ahmadinejad.”
 

The Christian Science Monitor calls Ahmadinejad’s four destination capitals ‘anti-American cities.’ In Nicaragua, he is set to be the guest of honor at the presidential inauguration. But one correspondent for the paper says the two countries’ diplomatic relations is really just all talk.
 

“...what the Nicaraguan-Iranian relationship lacks in substance, it makes up for in rhetoric.
‘Our two countries have common interests, enemies and goals,’ Ahmadinejad said during his first visit in 2007 …  ‘We may be far apart, but we are close in heart.’”
 

CNN reports Ahmadinejad promised to build a port in Nicaragua, which never materialized. He also promised to install oil refineries in Ecuador — also did not happen. An analyst for CNN says this shows Ahmadinejad’s trips to Latin America are mostly a gesture to his own people.

“There’s always a big gap between the rhetoric of promise of large scale investment and what actually is delivered. I think this is for domestic consumption -- in his own country, to show that he is not isolated despite sanctions, despite U.N. resolutions, along those lines. In Latin America, generally, he doesn’t really have much of a political base.”

The journey also coincides with U.S. Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner’s trip to China and Japan, seeking support to increase sanctions against Iran’s oil industry. China is Iran’s largest oil consumer.