RIO DE JANEIRO, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The oil price could reach 100 U.S. dollars a barrel if the United States attacked Iran, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned on Thursday.

    During a visit to the Brazilian state of Parana, Chavez said that a U.S. attack on Iran would imperil the fragile stability in the Middle East and lead to a hike of the world oil price, which is already at a historic peak above 70 U.S. dollars per barrel.

    Chavez, who arrived in Parana's state capital Curitiba early Thursday for the second Parana-Venezuela Regional Meeting.

    Chavez is scheduled to visit Brasilia on Thursday afternoon, where he will meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on a variety of regional and international issues. Enditem