Iran President Plays Down Israeli Threat

September 25, 2012 - 2:07 pm | Category: World

In a visit to New York on Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad downplayed the threat of an Israeli military strike on his country’s nuclear facilities, but said if such an attack takes place “equations in the region would see a deep change.”

He told a group of journalists, “Fundamentally, we don’t take the seriously the threats of the Zionists,” referring to Israel.

The Iranian leader is attending his final annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, since his second four-year terms of president ends this June. During past appearances, he’s insulted Israel and questioned the Holocaust and the September 11th terrorist attacks. This time, he also took on gay rights.

A spokesman for the White House called Ahmadinejad’s comments “disgusting, offensive and outrageous,” adding, “They underscore again why America’s commitment to the security of Israel must be unshakable, and why the world must hold Iran accountable for its utter failure to meet its obligations.”