Ahmadinejad denies Iran behind Saudi assassination plot

Iranian president says he doesn't think Tehran, US are on collision course; Iran's roleis to "explain that 'occupation' should be eliminated."

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS

OCTOBER 17, 2011 22:02

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 311 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 311 (R)

(photo credit: REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad categorically denied that his country was behind a plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Washington, in an interview with Al Jazeera Monday.

"If the US administration is under the impression that by doing this that it can create conflict between us and Saudi Arabia, it is sadly mistaken," he said.

Asked whether he thought Iran and the United States were on an inevitable "collision course" towards military conflict, he replied: "I don't think so."

"I think that there are some people in the US administration who want this to happen but I think there are wise people in the US administration who know they shouldn't do such a thing."

"By accusing Iran," he added, "they are not going to achieve anything."

When asked about his country's position on Israel, Ahmadinejad said: "We believe that occupation should be eliminated. Killing people and murder should disappear. Terrorism should be eliminated. Does the Zionist regime do anything but these things?"

But the Iranian president also took a deescalating tone, adding, that Tehran's "method is a humanitarian one. We talk."

Iran's role, he said, is to "explain the truth that the occupation should be eliminated," saying that the Palestinians should be allowed to decide their own fate.