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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Iran president attacks US claims | Iran president attacks US claims |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says US accusations Tehran is fomenting violence in Iraq are an attempt to hide Washington's own failures. | Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says US accusations Tehran is fomenting violence in Iraq are an attempt to hide Washington's own failures. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad made the comments in a rare US television interview on Monday. | Mr Ahmadinejad made the comments in a rare US television interview on Monday. |
| US officials in Iraq had said they had evidence that Iran was providing weapons to Shia militias who attacked the US military. | US officials in Iraq had said they had evidence that Iran was providing weapons to Shia militias who attacked the US military. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran "shied away from all conflict" and that no peace would come with foreign troops in Iraq. | Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran "shied away from all conflict" and that no peace would come with foreign troops in Iraq. |
| 'Baseless propaganda' | 'Baseless propaganda' |
| In the interview with ABC Television in Tehran, Mr Ahmadinejad was questioned repeatedly about the US claims. | In the interview with ABC Television in Tehran, Mr Ahmadinejad was questioned repeatedly about the US claims. |
| Anyone who wants to attack our country will be seriously punished Mahmoud Ahmadinejad | Anyone who wants to attack our country will be seriously punished Mahmoud Ahmadinejad |
| He said the accusations were "excuses to prolong the stay" of US forces. | He said the accusations were "excuses to prolong the stay" of US forces. |
| "There should be no foreigners there in Iraq. And then you see that you have peace in Iraq," Mr Ahmadinejad said. | "There should be no foreigners there in Iraq. And then you see that you have peace in Iraq," Mr Ahmadinejad said. |
| He said any claims of Iranian military supplies should have a "court to prove the case". | He said any claims of Iranian military supplies should have a "court to prove the case". |
| Mr Ahmadinejad said: "We have made it clear the lack of security in Iraq is to our disadvantage." | Mr Ahmadinejad said: "We have made it clear the lack of security in Iraq is to our disadvantage." |
| Earlier Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini had called the US allegations baseless propaganda. | Earlier Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini had called the US allegations baseless propaganda. |
| He said Washington had a long history of fabricating evidence. | He said Washington had a long history of fabricating evidence. |
| We assess that these activities are coming from the senior levels of the Iranian government US official In pictures: US Iran evidence US claims: Why now? class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5504">Send us your comments | |
| On Sunday, US officials said they had proof that Iran had provided sophisticated weapons which had been used to kill American soldiers in Iraq. | On Sunday, US officials said they had proof that Iran had provided sophisticated weapons which had been used to kill American soldiers in Iraq. |
| The US claims have not been independently verified. | The US claims have not been independently verified. |
| The Bush administration denies it is planning to invade Iran but has indicated it is willing to use military force to deal with any Iranian interference inside Iraq. | The Bush administration denies it is planning to invade Iran but has indicated it is willing to use military force to deal with any Iranian interference inside Iraq. |
| Democratic Senator Chris Dodd said the Bush administration had tried to falsify evidence before, and it would be a mistake to create a premise for future military action. | Democratic Senator Chris Dodd said the Bush administration had tried to falsify evidence before, and it would be a mistake to create a premise for future military action. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad told ABC he thought the possibility of an attack "very low". | Mr Ahmadinejad told ABC he thought the possibility of an attack "very low". |
| "We believe there are wise people in the US who will stop such illegal actions," he said. | "We believe there are wise people in the US who will stop such illegal actions," he said. |
| "Anyone who wants to attack our country will be seriously punished." | "Anyone who wants to attack our country will be seriously punished." |