No need for ties with Washington, says Iran's hardline new President

[emad]

By Angus McDowall in Tehran
27 June 2005


In his first statements since a landslide election victory on Friday, Iran's new hardline President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, defended his government's right to a nuclear programme and said that the country had "no significant need" for ties with the United States.

The former mayor of Tehran also sought to assuage domestic fears that he would crack down on social and political freedoms, saying in a press conference that "no extremism will be acceptable in popular government".

Mr Ahmadinejad's triumph has been greeted with dismay in Western capitals, which fear a newly confrontational approach from Tehran after months of tortuous negotiations over Iran's uranium-enrichment programme, which it claims is only intended to satisfy domestic energy needs. But although he was dismissive of American claims that the election was flawed and illegitimate, Mr Ahmadinejad was more conciliatory towards Europe, which has led the nuclear negotiations.

"Preserving national interests and emphasising the right of the Iranian nation for using peaceful nuclear technology," said the new President, "we will continue the talks," adding that they should be concluded "quickly". With America however, it appears that Mr Ahmadinejad is prepared to let relations go into a deep freeze. His defeated opponent, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, made improved dialogue with the US a pillar of his election campaign. But, asked yesterday about Washington's persistent criticism of poll arrangements, the president-elect angrily replied: "In the democratic elections in our country, the people have chosen their president. Those who defend dictatorships cannot pass judgement on us."

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=650030

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