Iran Rejects UN Condemnation of President Anti-Israel Remarks

Dow Jones Newswires:

Iran hit back Saturday at the U.N. Security Council after the world body condemned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for Israel to be destroyed. The Security Council issued a statement Friday reminding Iran that, according to the U.N. Charter, member states must refrain from threatening the use of force against each other.

"The statement by the president of the UN Security Council was proposed by the Zionist regime to close the eyes to its crimes and to change the facts, therefore it is not acceptable," Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. READ MORE

"Iran is loyal to its commitments based on the U.N. charter and it has never used or threatened to use force against any country," the statement added.

On Wednesday, Ahmadinejad demanded the Jewish state be "wiped off the map" and defended the call Friday during nationwide protests.

Ahmadinejad's comments drew wide international criticism.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said the international community was treating Iran unfairly, accusing it of not coming to Tehran's defense any time it comes under attack from the U.S. or Israel over claims it is developing nuclear weapons or supporting Islamic militants.

"How many sessions were held by the Security Council over the U.S. and Israeli threats against Iran?" the Foreign Ministry statement read.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's supreme national security council, said the intense opposition from the West to Ahmadinejad's comments stem from the campaign against its nuclear program.

"The reactions to Ahmadinejad's comment showed that the diplomatic machines of some Western countries are influenced by the hue and cry of propaganda," state- run Iran radio said in a commentary.

Ahmadinejad became president in August after winning elections two months earlier. He replaced Mohammad Khatami, a reformist who advocated international dialogue and tried to improve relations with the West.

Iran announced earlier this year that it had fully developed solid fuel technology for missiles, a major breakthrough that increases their accuracy. The Shahab-3, with a range of 810 miles to more than 1,200 miles, is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to Israel and U.S. forces in the Middle East.