Ahmadinejad: Nuclear issue of Iran is now closed

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Tuesday that "the nuclear issue of Iran is now closed," but the leaders of France and Germany vowed to thwart what they believe are Tehran's ambitions to build nuclear weapons.

The Iranian president also slammed "the brutal Zionist regime" for violating the Palestinians' human rights.

Addressing world leaders at the UN General Assembly, Ahmadinejad said Iran will leave the monitoring of its nuclear program to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and will "disregard unlawful and political impositions by the arrogant powers."

(Photo: AFP)

Ahmadinejad said Western powers had insisted on politicizing the Iranian nuclear issue.

"But today, because of the resistance of the Iranian nation, the issue is back to the agency (IAEA), and I officially announce that in our opinion the nuclear issue of Iran is now closed and has turned into an ordinary agency matter."

"Of course Iran has always been and will be prepared to have constructive talks with all parties," he added.

The Iranian leader spoke hours after French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned the assembly that allowing Iran to arm itself with nuclear weapons would be an "unacceptable risk to stability in the region and in the world." Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel threatened tougher sanctions against Iran if the country remains intractable on the dispute over its nuclear program.

'Occupation by illegal Zionist regime'

Rights violations In his lengthy speech, Ahmadinejad also blasted the policies of the "illegal Zionist regime" (Israel) toward the Palestinians and the US military presence in Iraq. "The occupiers ... Do not even have the courage to declare their defeat and exit Iraq," he said.

He said he looked forward to a time when "Palestine and Iraq will be liberated," when powers would "return from the path of arrogance and obedience to Satan" and when "The pleasing aroma of justice will permeate the world."

Ahmadinejad also hit back at earlier charges by US President George W. Bush of human rights violations in Iran.

In a clear reference to the United States he said rights were being violated by "certain powers" that were guilty of "setting up secret prisons, abducting persons, trials and secret punishments without any regard to due process".