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Iran defends nuclear plans at UN Iran defends nuclear plans at UN
(about 9 hours later)
Iran will resist "bullying powers" trying to thwart its peaceful nuclear ambitions, its leader has told the UN.Iran will resist "bullying powers" trying to thwart its peaceful nuclear ambitions, its leader has told the UN.
Addressing the General Assembly in New York, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran supported dialogue but would not accept "illegal demands".Addressing the General Assembly in New York, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran supported dialogue but would not accept "illegal demands".
Western nations suspect Iran aims to create a nuclear weapons capability - a claim Tehran denies.Western nations suspect Iran aims to create a nuclear weapons capability - a claim Tehran denies.
Iran is in breach of three UN security council resolutions demanding the end of its uranium enrichment programme. Iran is in breach of three UN Security Council resolutions demanding the end of its uranium enrichment programme.
Officials of the five permanent Security Council members, plus Germany, had planned to meet this week on the fringe of general-assembly gatherings to discuss further sanctions against Iran. Officials of the five permanent Security Council members, plus Germany, had planned to meet this week on the fringe of General Assembly gatherings to discuss further sanctions against Iran.
However on Tuesday diplomats said the meeting may not take place because Russia did not think the timing was right. However on Tuesday, diplomats said the meeting may not take place because Russia did not think the timing was right.
Moscow said at the weekend that it saw no need for further sanctions against Iran.Moscow said at the weekend that it saw no need for further sanctions against Iran.
In his address, President Ahmadinejad also lashed out at Israel, saying the "Zionist regime" was headed for collapse.In his address, President Ahmadinejad also lashed out at Israel, saying the "Zionist regime" was headed for collapse.
[The] American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road, and its next rulers must limit their interference to their own borders Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Bush chides Russia in UN speech [The] American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road, and its next rulers must limit their interference to their own borders Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Bush chides Iran and Syria at UN class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7628316.stm">Iranian row on Zionism breaks out
He said that Europe and America were being manipulated by "murderous Zionists".He said that Europe and America were being manipulated by "murderous Zionists".
"Today, the Zionist regime is on a definite slope to collapse and there is no way for it to get out of the cesspool created by itself and its supporters," he said."Today, the Zionist regime is on a definite slope to collapse and there is no way for it to get out of the cesspool created by itself and its supporters," he said.
President Ahmadinejad accused the US and Nato of being "aggressors" in Iraq and Afghanistan, and of starting wars "in order to win votes in elections". 'Ugly accusations'
The comments were denounced as anti-Semitic by pro-Israeli groups in the US, while Israeli President Shimon Peres said the speech echoed a literary forgery published in the 1900s that posited a global Jewish and Masonic conspiracy to rule the world.
"This is the first time in the history of the UN that the head of a state is appearing openly and publicly with the ugly and dark accusations of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion," Mr Peres said.
Mr Ahmadinejad also accused the US and Nato of being "aggressors" in Iraq and Afghanistan, and of starting wars "in order to win votes in elections".
He added: "[The] American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road, and its next rulers must limit their interference to their own borders."He added: "[The] American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road, and its next rulers must limit their interference to their own borders."
He said that six years after Saddam Hussein's regime was ousted in Iraq, "the occupiers are still there".He said that six years after Saddam Hussein's regime was ousted in Iraq, "the occupiers are still there".
"Millions have been killed or displaced, and the occupiers, without a sense of shame, are still seeking to solidify their position," he said."Millions have been killed or displaced, and the occupiers, without a sense of shame, are still seeking to solidify their position," he said.
On Monday, Iran was asked by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, for a full response to concerns about its nuclear programme.On Monday, Iran was asked by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, for a full response to concerns about its nuclear programme.
The agency's head, Mohamed El Baradei, said that without more information from Iran, the IAEA could not provide assurances.The agency's head, Mohamed El Baradei, said that without more information from Iran, the IAEA could not provide assurances.
But President Ahmadinejad told the assembly that "a few bullying powers" were seeking to stop Iran's peaceful nuclear activities by exerting pressure on Iran "and also through threatening and pressuring the IAEA". But Mr Ahmadinejad told the assembly that "a few bullying powers" were seeking to stop Iran's peaceful nuclear activities by exerting pressure on Iran "and also through threatening and pressuring the IAEA".