Venezuelan president to visit Iran on Saturday

TEHRAN, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is scheduled to visit Tehran on Saturday, the semi-official Fars news agency reported Wednesday.

Chavez is to confer with Iranian officials on bilateral ties and other issues of mutual interest, the report said.

Iran and Venezuela will also ink a number of agreements during Chavez's two-day trip to Tehran, Fars added.

The Venezuelan president has developed strong ties with the government of Iran, in particular in energy production, economic, and industrial cooperation. He has visited Iran several times since Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office in 2005.