As regards the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company for doing business with Iran on May 24, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez branded this as a new aggression act of the U.S. imperialists.

He said it would serve only to strengthen Venezuela's resolve.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan foreign minister in a statement said that "Venezuela reserves the most proper response to this imperialist aggression."

Venezuela intends to continue strengthening ties with the Iranian government, he added.