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Following are excerpts from an interview with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which aired on Channel 1, Iranian TV on July 25, 2007:
Interviewer: There are three possibilities. One is the "time out" plan, which means simultaneous suspension – the Security Council will suspend its sanctions, and we will suspend the construction and installation of the centrifuges. The second possibility is that the sanctions will be intensified, or that they will pass some other resolution that they are considering. The question is whether the third possibility is one of confrontation. The talks we have now begun with the IAEA and with the P5+1 – to what extent do you think they will be able to prevent or postpone the next resolution of the confrontation? This is the impression one gets from the situation.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: There is at least one other possibility – that they will behave like human beings – and say: "This is your right." Don't you think that's possible?
Interviewer: Yes. The fact that talks have begun indicates that this is a possibility.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: In my view, it's the most likely one. The first three options are almost blocked to them – not completely blocked, but almost. Simultaneous suspension – what is it good for? They passed a resolution illegally, whereas all our actions were legitimate. Now you say that both these actions should be equally suspended. These two things are not on a par. They are two completely different things. You performed an illegal actions, so suspend it, and let's start talking.
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Even though there has been no resolution about a boycott yet, some of their banks – either their banks or banks in which the Americans hold shares – have severed ties with us.
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They thought that if they mentioned the possibility of sanctions, this would be a big shock for us, and the entire Iranian people would start praying, but nothing of the sort happened. They passed two resolutions and sent people here to prepare reports, but these reports said that the Iranian people was completely indifferent, and that they were living their lives in peace, going on New Year vacations, going to parties, and laughing in the streets.
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As for the possibility of a confrontation – what reason do they have? Why in the world should they confront us? Are they, or the world, capable of doing this? Do the political circumstances in the world permit such a thing? What is the reason for this? The international public opinion – even within Europe – is in favor of Iran now. I know what I am talking about.
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Interviewer: But the international public opinion cannot prevent this?
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Today, international public opinion is the main power in the world...
Interviewer: I don't want to draw comparisons, but if I recall what happened with regard to Iraq before 2003, there were many anti-war demonstrations, but Bush did what he wanted.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Demonstrations and public opinion are two entirely different things. At the time, international public opinion was against Saddam.
Interviewer: True.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: They considered Saddam to be a dictator.
Interviewer: But they were against the war as well.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: No. The international public opinion wanted to topple Saddam. You should not make this mistake – even if there were some demonstrations. But now the situation is different, because international public opinion believes that justice lies with the Iranian people. That is why hundreds of articles are published daily throughout the world, none of which [supports a war]. Even the top officials in the world are in our favor.
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We must bear in mind that we are becoming a nuclear country. When Iran becomes nuclear, it's not like any other country becoming nuclear. It means that Iran will automatically become one of the nine [nuclear] countries of the world. That is why they are worried, and not because of four spinning devices, or because of the [nuclear] fuel production. The fact that we produce fuel is not the issue. This is done in Iran, and it enables Iran to sit beside the other eight countries of the world that do so, and say: "I am a partner, I am one of those managing the world." This is how we will join the global economy. That is why it is so difficult for them to accept. They say: "So far, we used to divide everything by eight. Now, we will have to divide by nine." It is not the bomb they are worried about...
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Interviewer: You took several measures during the first months of your presidency, but now it seems that you've cut down on them, and you don't send letters to anybody, and you don't say things that are meant to shock the world, with regard to international relations.
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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Take a look at this year alone, and see how many events have taken place: During the first 15 days of the year, the incident of...
Interviewer: The British hostages...
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: That was a very significant move internationally. They are still analyzing it. This move rally had an impact. It conveyed the following messages to the peoples of the world: "This is Iran, and these are the people who confront Iran. Look at their behavior, and look at Iran's." Politically, it was very significant that while they curse the prophets, we freed [the hostages] in the name of the prophets.
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