West using nuclear issue as excuse to dominate Iran, Ahmadinejad tells AP

TEHRAN,Sept.27(MNA) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the West is using Iran’s nuclear enrichment program as an excuse to establish domination over Tehran. “Everyone is aware the nuclear issue is the imposition of the will of the United States,” Ahmadinejad told AP during an interview in New York on Tuesday. He added, “I see the nuclear issue as a non-issue. It has become a form of one-upmanship.” He also said that he favors more dialogue over Iran’s nuclear program. Ahmadinejad went on to say that some world leaders have stated that Iran would be better off holding nuclear talks only with the United States. “Of course I am not dismissing such talks,” he said, asked if he were open to discussions with the winner of the U.S. presidential election, which is scheduled to be held on November 6. Ahmadinejad also said that the United States has never accepted Iran’s choice of government after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The world can no longer see an emperor commanding it Elsewhere in his remarks, Ahmadinejad commented on a new order that he predicts will prevail in the world and said, “God willing, a new order will come and will do away with… everything that distances us.” He added, “All of the animosity, all of the lack of sincerity will come to an end. It will institute fairness and justice.” Ahmadinejad stated that the world is losing patience with the current state of affairs. “Now even elementary school kids throughout the world have understood that the United States government is following an international policy of bullying,” he said, adding, “I do believe the system of empires has reached the end of the road. The world can no longer see an emperor commanding it.” Iran proposes establishment of contact group of 10 countries on Syria Commenting on the situation in Syria, Ahmadinejad proposed forming a new group of 10 or 11 countries to work to end the 18-month crisis in Syria. Representatives of nations in the Middle East and elsewhere will meet in New York “very soon,” he said. Ahmadinejad added that the so-called contact group hopes to get the Syrian government and opposition to sit across from each other. “I will do everything in my power to create stability, peace, and understanding in Syria,” Ahmadinejad said. Iran not involved in attacks on Israeli targets During the interview, Ahmadinejad also denied claims of Iran’s involvement in plotting attacks on Israeli targets abroad. He also vehemently disputed the U.S. claim that Iranian agents played a role in a foiled plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States last year. Iran’s economic situation has improved since 2005 Ahmadinejad also spoke about the country’s economic status and said that since his election in 2005, Iran has gone from being the world’s 22nd-largest economy to the 17th-largest, non-petroleum related exports have increased sevenfold, and the basic production of goods has doubled. Median income has increased by $4,000, he said. “Today’s conditions in Iran are completely different to where they were seven years ago in the economy, in technical achievement, in scientific know-how,” Ahmadinejad said. “All of these achievements, though, have been reached under conditions in which we were brought under heavy sanctions,” he added. In addition, Ahmadinejad said that he has no knowledge of the whereabouts of Robert Levinson, a private investigator and former FBI agent who reportedly vanished in Iran five years ago. He said that he directed Iranian intelligence services two years ago to work with their counterparts in the U.S. to locate him. “And if any help there is that I can bring to bear, I would be happy to do so,” he said.