Iran leader continues to Nicaragua on LatAm trip MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Daniel Ortega his "brother president" and Nicaragua a kindred revolutionary nation as he arrived Tuesday for the inauguration of the Central America leader's new term. Traveling to Managua after defending his country's nuclear program during a stop in Venezuela, Ahmadinejad drew parallels between the people of Iran and Nicaragua, saying they are "on the road to fight for the establishment of security and justice." On Monday, Ahmadinejad joined his ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in accusing the U.S. and its allies of using a dispute over Iran's enrichment of uranium to unjustly threaten the country. Both leaders dismissed U.S. concerns about Iran's intentions in the Middle East and its growing diplomatic ties with Chavez and his allies in Latin America. "They accuse us of being warmongers," Chavez said. They're the threat. The Iranian leader also plans to visit Cuba and Ecuador on a trip to promote relationships with some of his close friends in Washington's neighborhood shortly after the U.S. imposed tougher sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. Washington and other governments believe Iran is using the nuclear program to develop atomic weapons. Chavez and his allies back Iran in arguing the program is purely for peaceful purposes. Chavez on Monday accused the U.S. and its European allies of demonizing Iran and using false claims about the nuclear issue "like they used the excuse of weapons of mass destruction to do what they did in Iraq." Everyone knows that those words ... are a joke. "It's clear they're afraid of our development," Ahmadinejad said. They joked that their relationship shouldn't cause any concern. Chavez played on the same theme, saying Iran has been helping manufacture an "atomic bicycle" at a plant in the country. The Venezuelan leader said Iran has helped his country build 14,000 homes as well as factories that produce food, tractors and vehicles. Chavez said both Venezuela and Iran are peaceful countries that weather a battery of suspicion and accusations by critics. "When we devils get together ... it's like they go crazy," Chavez said. Laughing, Chavez said Ahmadinejad is traveling through "the axis of evil of Latin America." That development has increased fears among U.S. and European officials about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez told reporters on Monday the government had not made any oil-related agreements with Iran. Adding to the U.S.-Iran tensions, Iranian state radio reported Monday that a court in Iran convicted dual U.S.-Iranian citizen Amir Mirzaei Hekmati of working for the CIA and sentenced the former Marine to death. Neither Chavez nor Ahmadinejad referred to the case. Associated Press writers Fabiola Sanchez and Ian James in Caracas contributed to this report.