USA: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Israel is no threat and U.S President Barack Obama is not a nuclear expert

Record ID: 397245

  • Title: USA: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Israel is no threat and U.S President Barack Obama is not a nuclear expert
  • Date: 26th September 2009
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 25, 2009) (AGENCY POOL) IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, PRESIDENT OF IRAN, SAYING: "We think that the Zionist regime is far smaller than that. They cannot basically say anything or do anything against Iran. It's far too small for that kind of talk. So we a
  • Embargoed: 11th October 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4W9O93OCQ5475V1DB591SUK04
  • Story Text: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he isn't worried about Israel launching a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, and says U.S President Barack Obama is not a nuclear expert.
    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday (September 25) brushed off suggestions that Israel could stage a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
    Ahmadinejad, who in the past has said Israel should be wiped off the map, said he didn't see the country as a threat, and that Iran could protect itself.
    "We think that the Zionist regime is far smaller than that. They cannot basically say anything or do anything against Iran. It's far too small for that kind of talk. So we are not concerned. Iran is a very big country. Much larger and bigger than most people can imagine. It was 7,000 years of civilisation, at least 3,000 years of written history. So we are not concerned about these things. We are able to defend ourselves," Ahmadinejad told reporters through an interpreter.
    During the news conference, the Iranian President was peppered with questions about Iran's newly disclosed nuclear fuel facility and increased international concern over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
    Ahmadinejad said the plant was 18 months away from starting operations, and that it met International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requirements.
    "We are operating within the NPT framework and within the framework of the IAEA and that is how we will advance our operations. We don't have a problem working with the agency. There are rules and regulations that we follow, so we followed the law which is out there," Ahmadinejad said.
    The Iranian leader also rejected U.S. President Barack Obama's description of the site as being inconsistent with peaceful nuclear purposes.
    "I don't think Mr Obama is a nuclear expert. We think that we have to leave it to the IAEA and let the IAEA carry out its duty," Ahmadinejad said.
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register