Caracas, Venezuela ? Iran’s president praised Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez for his firm opposition to the United States on Sunday, promising to deepen an alliance that is helping Tehran fight U.S. moves to rein in its nuclear program.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Chavez “my brother” and “the champion of the struggle against imperialism.”

The two leaders met as both were preparing to travel to New York for this week’s U.N. General Assembly.

“We have thoughts, objectives and interests in common,” Ahmadinejad said. “We must be united to be able to make these ideas reality with the aim of achieving justice and peace.”

Venezuelan and Iranian officials signed a series of accords, including agreements for Tehran to help Venezuela develop oil fields.

The governments plan to build factories to produce everything from bricks to bicycles, and have agreed to set up a $2 billion investment fund.