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UN: Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejects nuclear 'threat' UN: Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejects nuclear 'threat'
(35 minutes later)
Iran's president has accused the West of nuclear "intimidation" in a UN General Assembly address boycotted by the United States and Israel.Iran's president has accused the West of nuclear "intimidation" in a UN General Assembly address boycotted by the United States and Israel.
It was using a nuclear arms race to threaten other nations to accept the status quo, said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It was using a nuclear arms race to threaten other nations to accept the status quo, said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"Continued threat by the uncivilised Zionists [Israel] to resort to military action is a clear example of this bitter reality," he said. He told reporters later that Iran was ready for talks with the US.
It was Mr Ahmadinejad's last speech to the UN summit before he steps down.
The West suspects Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes.The West suspects Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes.
'Soulful breeze''Soulful breeze'
In his eighth and final appearance before the 193-nation assembly, Mr Ahmadinejad said the world was in need of a new order and a fresh way of thinking, as "the existence of discrimination and monopoly in the UN is in no way acceptable". It was Mr Ahmadinejad's eighth and final speech at a debate of the UN General Assembly before he steps down.
"[The] arms race and intimidation by nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction by the hegemonic powers have become prevalent," he told the 193-nation annual gathering.
"Continued threat by the uncivilised Zionists [Israel] to resort to military action is a clear example of this bitter reality," Mr Ahmadinejad said.
He said the world was in need of a new order and a fresh way of thinking, as "the existence of discrimination and monopoly in the UN is in no way acceptable".
He closed with a poetic exhortation to the second coming of Jesus Christ.He closed with a poetic exhortation to the second coming of Jesus Christ.
He said this event would complete "the soulful breeze of the spring" - an apparent reference to the Arab Spring - as Christ would be accompanied by "a perfect human being... named Imam al-Mahdi... he will lead humanity into achieving its glorious and eternal ideals".He said this event would complete "the soulful breeze of the spring" - an apparent reference to the Arab Spring - as Christ would be accompanied by "a perfect human being... named Imam al-Mahdi... he will lead humanity into achieving its glorious and eternal ideals".
At a news conference later, the Iranian leader said Tehran was ready for dialogue with the US, despite Washington's use of sanctions "as revenge on the people".
And he said his country was not afraid of nuclear attacks against nuclear facilities - "Iran can neutralise" such attacks, he said.
On the eve of the General Assembly debate, Mr Ahmadinejad had told a UN meeting that Israel was a "fake regime", prompting Israel's UN Ambassador, Ron Prosor, to walk out.On the eve of the General Assembly debate, Mr Ahmadinejad had told a UN meeting that Israel was a "fake regime", prompting Israel's UN Ambassador, Ron Prosor, to walk out.
The Iranian leader refrained from such inflammatory remarks during Wednesday's half-hour speech, which the Israeli and the US delegations had chosen to boycott due to his recent attacks on Israel.The Iranian leader refrained from such inflammatory remarks during Wednesday's half-hour speech, which the Israeli and the US delegations had chosen to boycott due to his recent attacks on Israel.
"Over the past couple of days, we've seen Mr Ahmadinejad once again use his trip to the UN... to spout paranoid theories and repulsive slurs against Israel," said Erin Pelton, spokeswoman for the US mission to the UN."Over the past couple of days, we've seen Mr Ahmadinejad once again use his trip to the UN... to spout paranoid theories and repulsive slurs against Israel," said Erin Pelton, spokeswoman for the US mission to the UN.
It was "particularly unfortunate" the Iranian president was given the podium on Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar, she added.
An unnamed European diplomat told Reuters that while EU states had walked out of previous UN speeches by Mr Ahmadinejad due to his anti-Semitic remarks, EU delegations remained seated this year as "his only crime was incoherence".
During the speech, some 100 opponents of the Iranian government protested opposite the UN headquarters, carrying placards calling for "Secular Democracy for Iran", Reuters reported.
Red linesRed lines
Later, UK Prime Minister David Cameron told the assembly that said pressure to stop Iran's nuclear programme should come from the United Nations. Later, UK Prime Minister David Cameron told the assembly that said href="http://gadebate.un.org/sites/default/files/gastatements/67/GB_en.pdf" >pressure to stop Iran's nuclear programme should come from the UN.
"Iran will continue to face the full force of sanctions and scrutiny from this United Nations until it gives up its ambitions to spread a nuclear shadow across the world," Mr Cameron said."Iran will continue to face the full force of sanctions and scrutiny from this United Nations until it gives up its ambitions to spread a nuclear shadow across the world," Mr Cameron said.
In his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, US President Barack Obama had again stressed the US would "do what we must" to stop Tehran acquiring nuclear arms.In his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, US President Barack Obama had again stressed the US would "do what we must" to stop Tehran acquiring nuclear arms.
Six weeks before the US election, he said a nuclear-armed Iran was "not a challenge that can be contained".Six weeks before the US election, he said a nuclear-armed Iran was "not a challenge that can be contained".
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been pressing Washington to set Tehran "red lines" which, if crossed, would lead to military intervention.Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been pressing Washington to set Tehran "red lines" which, if crossed, would lead to military intervention.
Mr Netanyahu recently warned that Iran was only six or seven months from having "90%" of what it needed to make a nuclear bomb and that it needed to be stopped. He is expected to take the same message to the General Assembly on Thursday.Mr Netanyahu recently warned that Iran was only six or seven months from having "90%" of what it needed to make a nuclear bomb and that it needed to be stopped. He is expected to take the same message to the General Assembly on Thursday.
On Monday, Mr Ahmadinejad said he was not concerned by the threat that Israel could launch a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
"We have all the defensive means at our disposal and we are ready to defend ourselves," he said.
He also ignored a plea by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for both sides to avoid "incendiary rhetoric" by saying the modern state of Israel had "no roots" in the Middle East and would eventually be "eliminated".