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Iran leader plays down 'US war' Iran leader plays down 'US war'
(about 4 hours later)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said 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 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.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. Protests have been held outside Columbia University in New York, where Mr Ahmadinejad is due to speak later.
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 Ahmadinejad Many Americans think Mr Ahmadinejad should not have been invited to speak at Columbia - but tickets to the event were snatched up within an hour of becoming available.
"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. In political relations right now, the nuclear bomb is of no use Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Dozens of protesters gathered outside the university on Sunday with placards saying: "Don't give a platform to hate," and calling Mr Ahmadinejad a "Hitler wannabe".
Columbia's president Lee Bollinger defended the decision to invite Mr Ahmadinejad, saying the university was "committed to confronting ideas", AFP news agency reported.
'No need' for bomb
In his CBS interview, conducted in Tehran last week, Mr Ahmadinejad said: "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."
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 invite
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.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 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. He is due to address the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday - his third address to the assembly in as many years.
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. The president had wanted to lay a wreath at Ground Zero during his visit, but the New York authorities refused that request on security grounds.
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.
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.