Ahmadinejad UN speech sparks walkout but signals desire for nuclear talks

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked a walkout at the 65th UN General Assembly Thursday when he told delegates that some people believe the US government staged the September 11 attacks.

Photo: Reuters

Ahmadinejad was speaking on the first day of a week-long UN meeting at its New York headquarters.

The US delegation led the boycott after Ahmadinejad's comments on the Al-Qaeda attack on the World Trade Center.

European Union delegations quickly followed as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Costa Rica.

The Iranian president said there was a theory that "some segments within the US government orchestrated the attack to reverse the declining American economy and its grips on the Middle East.

The US mission denounced Ahmedinejad's remarks on the 2001 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people, as “abhorrent and delusional”.

Despite the walkout both Obama and Ahmadinejad indicated they will revive talks to end the standoff over Tehran's nuclear aims.

The news comes four months after Washington obtained harsh new UN sanctions against Tehran.

Obama was positive but cautious about Iran's nuclear program in his speech:

"Let me be clear once more: the United States and the international community seek a resolution to our differences with Iran, and the door remains open to diplomacy should Iran choose to walk through it".

"But the Iranian government must demonstrate a clear and credible commitment, and confirm to the world the peaceful intent of its nuclear program".

In his speech Ahmadinejad said Iran had long been ready for negotiations however, dismissing suggestion it is giving way to pressure:

"We have never submitted to illegally imposed pressures nor will we ever do so. It has been said that they want to pressure Iran into a dialogue".

Ahmadinejad said Iran is likely to commence talks over its nuclear program in October.