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."
****
