Ahmadinejad calls for TV debate with Obama
Iranian leader says will be 'ready for one-on-one talks' with US president during UN General Assembly 'to see whose solutions are better'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on US President Barack Obama on Monday to face him in a televised one-on-one debate to see who has the best solutions for the world's problems.
The provocative proposal comes as Iran deals with a new wave of international sanctions - driven by Washington - aimed at pressuring the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.
"Toward the end of summer we will hopefully be there for the (UN) General Assembly and I will be ready for one-on-one talks with Mr. Obama, in front of the media of course," Ahmadinejad told a conference of Iranian expatriates in Tehran.
"We will offer our solutions for world issues to see whose solutions are better.
Ahmadinejad suggested such a debate last September, which was not taken up by Washington. He said Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, had declined similar invitations because he was "scared".
The Iranian president's offer comes on the heels of the collapse of negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the five permanent members of the Security Council – the US, Britain, France, Russia, China - and Germany. The failure of the talks led the UN to impose a fourth round of sanctions against Tehran.
The US, European Union, Canada and Australia have imposed even harsher sanctions against Iran.
However, it appears the West has not given up on the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear threat, as EU foreign policy Chief Catherin Ashton has invited Saeed Jalili, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to resume negotiations.
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
