Iran: It is not feasible for Israel to live
Ahmadinejad says Gaza op 'has been great lesson for all, showing absolute defeat of Zionist regime'
Iran's president says the fighting in Gaza between Hamas and Israel has shown that it is "not feasible" for what he calls Israel's "Zionist regime" to continue to live in the region.
During a press conference Thursday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the fighting in Gaza has been "a great lesson for all," and that it shows "the absolute defeat and desperation of this (Israeli) regime."
Ahmadinejad also spoke regarding the new US administration, and said it must change Washington's approach to the Islamic Republic, which is embroiled in a row with the United States over its nuclear program.
Asked about President-elect Barack Obama, who has promised to engage more with Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told reporters: "Any administration in America that takes office should at least make two changes in its behavior, the first change is in the field of America's interference ... The circle of interference should be limited to within American borders."
"The second change is the approach of the American government towards Iran," he said. "If there are real and fundamental changes I think it would be welcomed by nations."
"But, if the previous behavior continues with a change of tactic and in a new package, the trend of the world's affairs will stay on the past trend," Ahmadinejad added.
Obama, who takes office on January 20, has said he views Iran as a "genuine threat" but still favors initiating a dialogue.
Ahmadinejad said Iran would wait and see what the new administration's approach would be. "We do not want to have a prejudgment. We will wait and we have a lot of patience," he said.
Venezuela and Bolivia, which have cultivated ties with Iran, broke off diplomatic relations with Israel on Wednesday to protest the military offensive in Gaza.
The decisions by the leftist governments of Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales came about a week after Venezuela expelled the Israeli ambassador in Caracas, Shlomo Cohen, and seven embassy staff members.
Chavez has long been critical of Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians and accuses its government of acting as an arm of Washington. Venezuela "has decided to break off diplomatic relations with the state of Israel given the inhumane persecution of the Palestinian people," the foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report
