Region | Iran
US and Britain source of many tensions, says Iran
Iran's hardline president on Tuesday challenged the authority of the UN Security Council two days before the council's deadline demanding Tehran stop uranium enrichment.
- AP
- Published: 00:00 August 30, 2006
Tehran: Iran's hardline president on Tuesday challenged the authority of the UN Security Council two days before the council's deadline demanding Tehran stop uranium enrichment.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also said no one can prevent his country from having a peaceful nuclear programme and proposed having a televised debate with US President George W. Bush on world issues.
"The use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is the right of the Iranian nation. The Iranian nation has chosen this path. ... No one can prevent it," he said during a press conference.
"The US and Britain are the source of many tensions. At the Security Council, where they have to protect security, they enjoy the veto right," said Ahmadinejad.
"This (veto right) is the source of problems of the world ... It is an insult to the dignity, independence, freedom and sovereignty of nations," he said.
Ahmadinejad said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who is expected in Iran on Saturday, also must "move within the framework of international regulations."
"No one has a special right or advantage," he said.
Iran last week responded to a Western incentives package aimed at getting Tehran to roll back its nuclear programme.
Ahmadinejad yesterday called the response an opportunity for the two sides to resolve the issue.
"The opportunity the Iranian nation has given to other countries today is a very exceptional opportunity for a fair resolution of the issue," said Ahmadinejad.
The US government on Monday reaffirmed its intent to pursue sanctions, but Russia, whose support is the UN Security Council is essential, publicly counselled patience with Iran.
The Iranian president also said the creation of Israel is a "tale" and called the Jewish state a threat to peace and stability in the Mideast.
"The Zionist regime has deprived the Palestinian nation and other nations of the region of a single day of peace.
"In the past 60 years, it has imposed tens of wars on the Palestinian nation and others," he said.
On Saturday, Ahmadinejad said Iran was not a threat to any nation, even Israel.
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