Venezuela may sell old F-16s to Iran

CARACAS: A Venezuelan general has said that Iran might be interested in buying Venezuela's US F-6 fighter jets that he has recommended selling.

The comment by General Alberto Muller Rojas, a member of the Venezuelan chiefs of staff, came a day after the US ordered an arms sales ban against Venezuela, accusing Caracas of failing to provide assistance in the "war on terror".

The US administration highlighted Venezuela's ties with Iran and communist-led Cuba in justifying its move. The Venezuelan foreign ministry responded by issuing a statement accusing the US of creating the conditions to attack the South American country.

Venezuela is a key oil supplier to the US, but tensions between the two countries have increased in recent months. Washington has regularly expressed concern about the activities of the leftwing President Hugo Chavez.

Amid the new tussle over the US military sanctions, General Rojas said Venezuela is considering selling its ageing American F16 jets and to replace them with Russian Sukhoi-35s.

 "I made a proposal to the defence minister today to sell the F16s, whole or in parts, and to use the technology (from the planes) to attract people around the world who might be interested," Rojas said on Tuesday .

He added: "Many countries, such as Iran, would be interested in buying the material." Rojas said countries in Africa or Chile, which also uses F16s, might also be possible customers.

Venezuela's F16s are more than 20 years old and the United States now refuses to maintain them.