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Iran leader plays down 'US war' Iran leader plays down 'US war'
(about 1 hour later)
The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has said that Iran is not heading for armed conflict with the United States. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Iran is not heading for armed conflict with the United States.
In an American television interview, he said Iran was not on a path of war with the US and that Iran had no need of nuclear weapons. In an interview with US TV network CBS, he said Iran was not on a path of war with the US and that Iran had no need of nuclear weapons.
He is due to address the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.He is due to address the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
The US is leading moves to impose further sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear development programme.The US is leading moves to impose further sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear development programme.
In political relations right now, the nuclear bomb is of no use Mahmoud AhmadinejadIn political relations right now, the nuclear bomb is of no use Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
"It's wrong to think that Iran and the US are walking towards war. Who says so? Why should we go to war? There is no war in the offing," the Iranian leader said in the interview with CBS television. "It's wrong to think that Iran and the US are walking towards war. Who says so? Why should we go to war? There is no war in the offing," the Iranian leader told CBS.
He also denied Iran had nuclear arms ambitions.He also denied Iran had nuclear arms ambitions.
"You have to appreciate we don't need a nuclear bomb. We don't need that. What need do we have for a bomb?" Mr Ahmadinejad asked."You have to appreciate we don't need a nuclear bomb. We don't need that. What need do we have for a bomb?" Mr Ahmadinejad asked.
"In political relations right now, the nuclear bomb is of no use.""In political relations right now, the nuclear bomb is of no use."
University inviteUniversity invite
Mr Ahmadinejad's comments follow his warning on Saturday that anybody who attacked Iran would experience nothing but regret, although he said Iran's forces were just for defence. Mr Ahmadinejad's comments follow a warning on Saturday that anybody who attacked Iran would experience nothing but regret, although he said Iran's forces were just for defence.
Many Americans do not welcome Mr Ahmadinejad's visit Many Americans do not welcome Mr Ahmadinejad's visitMr Ahmadinejad has accepted an invitation to address students at New York's Columbia University, an invitation many Americans think should never have been made.
His visit has caused controversy even before his arrival in the United States, the BBC's Ian MacWilliam says. There were some protests on Sunday as Mr Ahmadinejad arrived and more are expected on Monday when the Iranian leader gives his Columbia University talk.
Mr Ahmadinejad has accepted an invitation to address students at New York's Columbia University, an invitation many Americans think should never have been made, our correspondent says. All week the tabloid press have given the visit extensive coverage, describing Mr Ahmadinejad as "a lunatic" and a "monster".
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in New York says there were some protests on Sunday as Mr Ahmadinejad arrived and more are expected on Monday when the Iranian leader gives his Columbia University talk.
She says all week the tabloid press have given the visit extensive coverage, describing Mr Ahmadinejad as "a lunatic" and a "monster".
However, correspondents say there are plenty of Americans eager to hear his side of the argument and tickets for his Columbia University speech were snatched up in an hour.However, correspondents say there are plenty of Americans eager to hear his side of the argument and tickets for his Columbia University speech were snatched up in an hour.
The president had wanted to lay a wreath at Ground Zero, but the New York authorities refused that request on security grounds.The president had wanted to lay a wreath at Ground Zero, but the New York authorities refused that request on security grounds.
This will be Mr Ahmadinejad's third address to the General Assembly in as many years.This will be Mr Ahmadinejad's third address to the General Assembly in as many years.