AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE,
WASHINGTON: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the United States of harboring imperial ambitions and demanded the administration change its behavior, in an interview with a US television network.
The Americans “want to build an empire,” said Ahmadinejad, according to excerpts of the interview published by the CBS network on its website Wednesday.
“And they don't want to live side-by-side in peace with other nations. The American government, sir, it is very clear to me they have to change their behavior and everything will be resolved,” said Ahmadinejad.
The interview, which was to be broadcast in full on Sunday on the “60 minutes” program, coincides with rising tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran's disputed nuclear program and Israel's offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The hardline Iranian president said the administration of President George W. Bush had adopted a condescending attitude towards Iran over its nuclear program and criticized a UN Security Council resolution requiring Tehran suspend uranium enrichment activities or face the prospect of sanctions.
“Well, please look at the makeup of the American administration, the behavior of the American administration. See how they talk down to my nation. And this recent resolution passed about the nuclear issue, look at the wording.”
The July 31 resolution was pushed through after Iran ignored a previous non-binding deadline and failed to respond to an international offer of a package of incentives in exchange for a moratorium on nuclear fuel work.
Ahmadinejad said Iran was still reviewing the package of incentives.
Western powers had “presented us with a package which we are studying right now,” the president said. “We even gave them a date for our response. Ignoring that, they passed a resolution.”
Ahmadinejad also expressed disappointment that the US administration had not responded to a letter he sent to Bush in May, which Tehran had presented as an important diplomatic initiative.
“Well, (with the letter) I wanted to open a window towards the light for the president so that he can see that one can look on the world through a different perspective,” he said.
The Bush administration, however, dismissed the 18-page letter as little more than a rambling philosophical treatise that offered nothing new on the nuclear crisis.
Ahmadinejad scoffed at Bush for refusing his “invitation” in the form of his letter.
“We are all free to choose. But please give him this message, sir: Those who refuse to accept an invitation will not have a good ending or fate,” he said.
“You see that his approval rating is dropping every day. Hatred vis-a-vis the president is increasing every day around the world.”
CBS said the interview was conducted on Tuesday.
