CARACAS (AFP)--Venezuela Monday congratulated Iran on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah, saying Caracas shares Tehran's "ideals of independence and sovereignty."

"We joyfully celebrate the memorable, popular uprising against the Shah in February 1979, a historic date...in fanning the revolutionary hopes of all the people of the world struggling for emancipation," a foreign ministry statement said.

President Hugo Chavez "feels honored to share with (Iran's) Islamic revolution its ideals of independence and sovereignty, fundamental values in consolidating a multipolar world within the context of an open dialogue between cultures," the statement added.

Both members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Iran and Venezuela have bolstered bilateral relations over the past few years and have signed about 30 cooperation agreements.

Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are outspoken critics of the U.S. and have met on several occasions, most recently November 2007 in Tehran.

Iran Tuesday celebrates its Islamic revolution with massive anti-U.S. demonstrations and a speech by Ahmadinejad, who is expected to trumpet the nation's self-reliance in science and technology, citing the Feb. 2 launch into orbit of its first domestically built satellite, Omid (Hope).

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  02-09-09 2319ET
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