Ahmadinejad visits Venezuela on first stop of Latin America tour

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is on four-nation Latin America tour
• His trip is meant to strengthen ties between Iran and the region
• The two nations have signed more than 270 accords
• Ahmadinejad will also visit Nicaragua, Ecuador and Cuba this week

Caracas, Venezuela (CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will welcome his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday on his first stop of a four-nation tour of Latin America, state media reported.

The Iranian leader arrived in Caracas on Sunday and is traveling with his ministers for foreign affairs, energy and economy, according to IRNA, Iran's official news agency.

It's no coincidence that Venezuela is Ahmadinejad's first stop. Despite their cultural differences, Venezuela and Iran have found significant common ground: both are among the world's top crude oil exporters and their leaders are strong allies united by a fierce opposition to what they view as U.S. imperialism.

The two nations have signed more than 270 accords, including trade deals, construction projects, car and tractor factories, energy initiatives and banking programs.

Chavez has also helped the Islamic republic forge relationships with other members of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas, an eight-nation regional bloc Chavez founded.

Still, not everyone in Venezuela is happy with Ahmadinejad's visit. Even before he arrived, the president's plans for a Latin America tour grabbed global attention as tensions grow between many Western powers and Iran over the nation's nuclear program.

Diego Arria, an opposition politician, described the trip as a "provocation" to the United States, and an embarrassment for Venezuela.

"It comes at the worst moment -- at a time when Ahmadinejad is being looked at by the international community with great fear. ... It's bringing the threat to the United States closer to home," he said.

The Iranian president is scheduled to visit Nicaragua, Ecuador and Cuba later this week as part of his five-day tour.

CNN's Luis Carlos Velez contributed to this report.