During a contentious interview with Diane Sawyer, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that his country is “ready to cooperate” with regard to its nuclear program “within the framework of regulations.” He also called the Holocaust an “excuse” for the occupation of Palestinian land.

ABC News:

Sawyer: If you could have a nuclear weapon today, tomorrow, would you want one?

Ahmadinejad: Well, our position is clear: We are opposed to any proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons. We believe that the time is now over for nuke weapons. It is a time for logic, for rationality and for civilization. Instead of thinking of finding new weapons, we are trying to find new ways to love people. And if talking about the “Death to America” slogans, I think you know it yourself, it is not related in any way to American public. Our people have no problem with American public, and we have a very friendly relationship.

Sawyer: Quick question about the nuclear issue if I may. … A negotiator seems to be saying there will be settlement, that Iran is ready to settle the outstanding issues before or at least soon. Is Iran ready to settle issues?

Ahmadinejad: When it comes to … within framework of regulations, we’re always ready to cooperate. We’ve always cooperated, and we’ll continue to cooperate. We want to have dialogue, but within the framework of regulations and … on a fair basis. If regulations are used as a tool of inquisition though.

[…]Ahmadinejad: Well, one of the methods used for concealing the truth is diverting a topic. Question is if Holocaust is true. To the Palestinian issue, why for the excuse of the Holocaust we have an illegitimate government in Palestine? Why in the name of Holocaust we allow people to occupy the land and make refugees and kill children? There are the questions that must be answered by American politicians, not to divert the attention.

If something has happened in the past of historical nature, then why are people sensitive to it now, and if it’s not related to the Palestinian issue … they should tell us where it is relevant. If it is unimportant and if it is true, then open the way to research. … These are serious questions. I have nothing to do with these questions of course.

I’m asking why, for the excuse of Holocaust, we have an imposed regime here in the region with 60 years of invasion, making people refugees. We say that Palestinian children and women they are people … and love their homeland and if someone comes to the U.S. and with some pretense and some phony excuse, establishes a government and kills children, it’s a serious question. You cannot let this question to go unanswered. This is a very serious question. The relationship, Holocaust and the … massacre of Palestinians. This is the question.

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#diane sawyer#holocaust#iaea#interview#iran#mahmoud ahmadinejad#middle east#nuclear#proliferation