Region | Iran
Ahmadinejad appeals to Americans
But Ahmadinejad also called on the US to leave Iraq, saying its presence there was proof that Washington wants to plunder Iraqi resources, because the Bush administration could not prove claims that Saddam Hussein was secretly storing weapons of mass destruction.
- Agencies
- Published: 12:44 September 17, 2007
Tehran: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appealed to Americans during a live Q-and-A television show, saying his country's wanted peace and friendship with
the US despite mounting tensions between the two countries, the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.
"Our message to the American nation is a message of peace, friendship, brotherhood and respect for humans," the agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in on the state-owned Jame Jam satellite TV channel late on Sunday.
Ahmadinejad also called on the US to leave Iraq, saying its presence there was proof that Washington wants to plunder Iraqi resources, because the Bush administration
could not prove claims that Saddam Hussain was secretly storing weapons of mass destruction.
"If the US leaders allow, then the situation of this country —Iraq — will be different," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.
Ahmadinejad's comments comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. Washington was angered by Tehran's arrest earlier this year of four
Iranian-Americans accused of plotting against the government. Iran, meanwhile, has protested the detention of eight Iranians by US forces in Iraq.
The United States accuses Tehran of helping to fuel Shiite militias in Iraq. Washington also says Iran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
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