Iran’s president wants debate with Bush at U.N.

updated 10:10 p.m. ET Sept. 6, 2006

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran’s president on Wednesday proposed a debate with President Bush at this month’s U.N. General Assembly, saying it would be the perfect place for an uncensored discussion that the whole world could watch.

The White House had no immediate response. But it dismissed a previous TV debate proposal from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a “diversion” from serious concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.

It was not clear if Iran planned to make a formal proposal through diplomatic channels or whether — as seemed more likely — Ahmadinejad’s comments were merely another in a line of provocative and often confrontational statements he has made since taking office a year ago.

The overture did seem to signal that Ahmadinejad is determined to try to shape the world debate over Iran’s intentions and continue to ignore the West’s insistence to curb its nuclear program.

Iran on Wednesday also postponed a tentative meeting with a top European Union official to discuss the nuclear controversy — a step that seemed to dim prospects the country will make concessions. The United States has said it will push for U.N. sanctions because of Iran’s refusal to suspend uranium enrichment as the U.N. had demanded.

Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful energy uses only but the United States and some Europeans believe the regime seeks nuclear weapons. On Tuesday, Bush said he would never allow a nuclear-armed Iran because such a government could blackmail the free world.

“I am not going to allow this to happen,” Bush said in a speech on terrorism. “And no future American president can allow it, either.”

No comment from Annan
A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan demurred when asked if the late September world gathering, also known as the General Debate, would be a suitable place for a Bush-Ahmadinejad get-together.

The United Nations headquarters has no formal debating facility, though one of its numerous conference rooms could certainly be used.

“I’m just not going to go down this road, I’ve decided,” said the spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.

Ahmadinejad made the debate proposal at a Cabinet meeting in Tehran and it was reported on his official Web site. He said the U.N. venue would allow Americans and people around the world to watch and listen without censorship, and that Bush could bring advisers.

“We are ready to discuss the ways of managing the world for achieving justice, peace, friendship and removing violations and threats,” he said in the Cabinet meeting, according to the Web site.

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