MOSCOW, November 15 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuela will pursue a peaceful nuclear program, the country's president said on Thursday.

"Venezuela will start developing a nuclear power sector for peaceful purposes," Hugo Chavez said in an interview with the French TV channel France 24, citing Brazil and Argentina as examples.

He said many other states would be compelled to do the same, since it was crucial to avert an energy crisis which is threatening the world as energy resources decline and oil prices soar.

Chavez also said he backed Iran's nuclear program.

"We support Iran, and I do not think that Iran is building a nuclear bomb," he said.