Iranian leader: It's not too late to fix ties

Updated: 2011-09-24 08:43

(China Daily)

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NEW YORK - Hours after criticizing the United States so fiercely that US diplomats stormed out of the UN General Assembly in protest, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that time has not run out for the two countries to repair their bad relationship.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Ahmadinejad claimed that explosive material and not planes brought down the World Trade Center, rejected the West's view of his country's nuclear ambitions and castigated US policies from Libya to Pakistan. But he also complained that President Barack Obama never made good on a pledge to try to open a dialogue with Iran, and said he still hopes for a face-to-face meeting.

Iranian leader: It's not too late to fix ties

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks at the United Nations headquarters on Thursday. [Photo/Agencies] 

"I don't believe that this is a chance that has been completely lost," Ahmadinejad said. The White House declined to comment on Ahmadinejad's remarks.

Ahmadinejad provoked a walkout by diplomats from more than 30 countries at the General Assembly when he attacked the US and Europe as being greedy, arrogant and too ready to use military force. He has made similar waves in past gatherings in New York.

Last week, Iran freed two US citizens jailed in the country for more than two years as suspected spies.

The two Americans, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, were released on Wednesday in what Ahmadinejad said was a humanitarian gesture.

He offered no proof the pair were conducting espionage but said it is beyond doubt that they illegally crossed the border - an offense he added that the United States itself routinely prosecutes.

"Just the fact that they are in their families' arms is important," Ahmadinejad said.

In the case of Robert Levinson, a retired FBI agent missing nearly five years in Iran, Ahmadinejad said he does not know where Levinson is. But he referred to unspecified contacts between the US and Iran over the case.

"I think there was good collaboration between the intelligence apparatus in both countries," Ahmadinejad said. "I think we have reached concrete results - good results - and it would be good if such collaboration continues."

Associated Press