Ahmadinejad Interviews

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2 Interviews of Iranian President

SWN - 17.09.2007

Two Interviews with President Ahmadinejad: Ayatollah's right hand man.

British television broadcast these interviews live from Tehran.

12 Sept. 2007 - 7 pm

Note: These quotes were transcribed from a live broadcast interview televised with a simultaneous translation. The President spoke in Farsi. The translator was not the President's official translator:


TV: Both the UK and the US have accused Iran of

fighting a proxy war inside Iraq?

President: "I think the Americans and the British, they should

correct themselves .... We know that there is a

difference between Americans and the British. The

British when they moved out of Barsa, it was a good

gesture and we hope it will continue. We are the

country that gets damaged a lot for Iraq's insecurity

because we're two countries that are so connected for

1000s for years, we have lots of two way connections

and our security depends on each others. Let me say

one more another sentence; Iraq is a great nation.."

TV: There are factions in southern Iraq you support -

is it a victory that the British left Basra?

President: "Do you think that you were defeated in Iraq by

Iraqi people or by Iran?"

TV: By Iran. People supporting factions in the south of

Iraq.

President: "It's a mistake of yours. That's why future

decisions would be wrong as well. We hope responsible

people should understand this. Iran is against any

sort of insecurity and attack and Iraq is able to

defend themselves."

TV: We find the division difficult between your

influence in the south of Iraq and actual military

involvement - some say we have British troops killed

by bombs made in Iran...

President: "We have influence all over Iraq, because we have a

good relationship; good history - sincere relations -

in a lot of the country. They are very good friends of

ours, we speak to each other in our private matters.

We have good relationships with Shias and Sunnis; with

both the President and the Prime Minister.."

TV: Can you use your influence in the release of

current hostages?

President: "We can help solve many problems in Iraq. We can

help secure Iraq. We can help the attackers go out;

the invaders go out of Iraq. There won't be any need

for these conflicts. We hope they recognise Iraqi

peoples' rights, if they don't recognise Iraqi

peoples' rights then this condition will continue."

TV: Nuclear and the UN - What will happen if there are

sanctions?

President: "The problem is clear. We have to obey or agree

with what ever was put to us but we didn't exercise

all the rights that we had. The main problem is the

{enmity or anonymity - translation unclear} of

America. From the beginning we said everything should

be solved by the agency and US opinion is now

important for us ..."{ last seven words also unclear

here}.."

TV: You do want a bomb don't you?

President: "We do not need a bomb. We are against a bomb

actually. There are many reasons that we're against

it. In our belief we are against bombs {and} from a

political point of view it is not useful."

TV: Will you take me to your nuclear facility?

President: "Would the government of Britain let me inspect

their atomic bases or Americans? Would they let us do

it - to inspect their bases?"

TV: Hand on heart - you do not want a bomb?

President: "Americans and British - if they have it {nuclear

facility} - what is the issue? Why have it? We don't

need it {a bomb}."

TV: On the existence of Israel?

President: "If there is a general referendum by the people of

Palestine, all would be solved. We think it is a human

solution... We do not recognise Israel; they are

attackers and illegal, but our method is human. I'll

ask you where is Soviet Union now - isn't it gone,

without war? Let the Palestinian people decide."

TV: But you speak with more determination. The collapse

of Soviet Union was a surprise - you say you want is

off the map (Israel).

President: "Because we are studying the region, the problems

in the region properly. We do not deceive ourselves.

We think that Israel is an invader and it is cruel and

it hasn't got a united public. All other neighbouring

countries are against it. It cannot continue its

life."

TV: Do you regret denying the holocaust?

President: "I had two questions about holocaust. I am sorry

that instead of answering academic questions they

created a political issue of it. I had two questions.

1st - if the holocaust is a historic matter there

should be research about it....."

TV: But documentation is enormous...

President: "I don't know why you are trying to blame me, my

question is clear - if historic matter has happened

then we should research this, there should be of

course new things to discover about it - why don't

they let us do it this? It is suspicious. My second

question if there was holocaust, where did it happen,

what was the Palestinian peoples' role in it? They

didn't have any mistake in it. Why should they be

punished, why should they be invaded, be killed...?"

TV: The majority of people in world will not agree.

President: "It is your mistake. If you make a referendum in

Europe -you will see that people of Europe are with

me. If as International associations will go to Europe

and we get a vote you will see they are with us..."

TV: You will never cease nuclear enrichment?

President: "Why should we stop it while American and Britain

does not cut it - what is the point?"

TV: You don't fear an American or Israeli bomb?

President: "There is no reason - no. There are those in

America that are interested to use warfare and force

but we do not believe in war and it is the last

resort.

There is one question I want to ask you- why should

the American programme not be stopped but our

programme is dangerous, but Americans are not a

danger?"

TV: When you were elected the poor believed you'd

reduce their suffering - but with high unemployment -

the poor are poorer - can you afford these conflicts

with outside world?

President: "I am happy that you are speaking on behalf of my

nation as well - where did you hear these things that

people say these things? I have said these things

before the elections as well. Our nation is strong

enough and in all cities and provinces they say our

people, that the government is there and there is no

gap between the government and the people here."

TV: Contact between the US and Iran has so far been

between ambassadors - one in Iraq and one here but

negotiations have to be at top. Would it be useful for

Gordon brown or Nicolas Sarkozy or Angela Merkel to be

directly involved?

President: "We appreciate and we are on the side of

negotiation. We do not have any problem with the

British government for example... {unclear} ... but if

something is forced upon us then we do not tolerate

that. We prefer to make more {negotiations} now with

Europeans because Europeans have had two wars and they

have suffered the consequences."

TV: Can you say that no Iranians are involved in the

killing of British solders?

President: "I should say this to the good British people about

the things that happen .. {unclear} .. We are sorry

for your soldiers to be killed, we think that peace

should exist. Why should there be invasions so that

people are killed? We want friendship. Our message is

friendship to all - all nations all human beings -

anybody who is killed, we are against that. Your

soldiers, poor soldiers, they don't know where they

are to be sent, they don't know which part of the

world, why should they be killed? British youths

should be in their own country, serving their own

people. We want peace and friendship for all. We

should help. This war should finish."


__________


President Ahmadinejad says Iran can help secure Iraq,

and Israel is a 'cruel' country

Iranian President says US amd UK ought to reconsider occupation of Iraq

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran does not need a nuclear bomb

Iranian President says Israel "cannot continue its life"

Iran wants "peace and friendship for all," the

country's president said Wednesday while again denying

Western assertions his nation is pursuing nuclear

weapons and trying to destabilize Iraq.

But Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took a hard line against

Israel, calling it "an invader" and saying it "cannot

continue its life."

Asked if Iran had launched a proxy war in Iraq -

something the U.S. ambassador and top military

commander there both asserted this week - Ahmadinejad

said the United States is merely seeking a scapegoat

for its failing campaign in Iraq.

"Forces have come into Iraq and destroyed the

security, and many people are killed," the Iranian

president told British television during a live interview in

the garden of the Presidential palace in

Tehran.

"And there are some claims that may seem very funny

and ridiculous. Those who have lots of weaponry and

warfare and thousands of soldiers - if they are

defeated, they blame others. There is no way to escape

for peace."

Iranians do not believe in war and consider it a "last

resort," he said.

He further claimed that Tehran is a friend of Iraq -

maintaining "good relationships" with the Sunni,

Shiite and Kurdish factions - and "if Iraq is not

secure, we are the first country that would be

damaged."

He added, "Responsible people should understand this:

that Iran is against any sort of insecurity and

attacks, and Iraq is able to defend themselves."

During the interview, Ahmadinejad struck a friendly

tone toward Britain, saying he regretted that British

soldiers have died in Iraq.

"We are sorry for your soldiers to be killed. We think

peace should exist. Why should there be an invasion so

that people will be killed?" he asked.

"We want friendship - friendship to all. We love all

nations and all human beings. Anyone who is killed, we

are against it."

Ahmadinejad urged the United States and Britain to

reconsider the invasion of Iraq. The two countries

should "correct themselves," he said. If they don't,

"the defeat would repeat."

The Islamic republic could help improve conditions in

Iraq, but first coalition forces must leave, he said.

"We can help solve many problems in Iraq. We can help

secure Iraq. We can help the attackers leave Iraq if

the American government and British government correct

themselves." he said.

Ahmadinejad has said in the past that Tehran would

fill any power vacuum left by a withdrawal of

coalition forces in Iraq.

The United States has cited the Iranian president's

remarks as a reason to continue its efforts in Iraq.

As for allegations that Tehran is pursuing a nuclear

weapon, Ahmadinejad said he resents the notion that

Iran "has to obey whatever was put to us" and asked

why there is no similar furor over American and

British nuclear programs.

"Our bombs are dangerous, but American bombs are not

dangerous?" he asked.

When the interviewer asked if he could tour the

Natanz nuclear facility in Iran, Ahmadinejad chuckled

and asked him if he thought the United States or

Britain would allow Iran to inspect their nuclear

facilities.

"We do not need a bomb. We are against bombs,

actually. There are many reasons we are against it,"

he said. "From a political point of view, it's not

useful, we think."

The United Nations Security Council has so far imposed

two rounds of limited sanctions against Iran for the

country's refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment

program.

Tehran has insisted the program is meant for peaceful

energy production.

In regard to Israel, which Ahmadinejad has said should

be politically "wiped off the map," the Iranian

president said there is a way to deal with the Jewish

state without violence.

Giving as an example the dissolution of the Soviet

Union which he said came about "without war"

Ahmadinejad suggested that "everything would be

solved" if the Palestinian people were allowed to vote

on their fate.

However, his hard-line rhetoric resurfaced when

Ahmadinejad said Israel "cannot continue its life."

"Israel is an invader and is cruel, and it hasn't got

a united public. All other nations are against it," he

said. "We do not recognize them. They are attackers

and illegal."

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