'In Iran, freedom is absolute'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in New York this week to address the United Nations General Assembly. He sat down at the Grand Hyatt hotel with Times' Managing Editor Davan Maharaj, Foreign Editor Bruce Wallace and Jerusalem Bureau Chief Richard Boudreaux. What follows is an edited transcript of their interview:
As you know, in New York we have a lot of news. The financial system is in shambles and the fallout is convulsing the world. What do you think is behind this financial mess, and is it good or bad for Iran?
The U.S. government has made a series of mistakes in the past few decades. First, the imposition on the U.S. economy of heavy military engagement and involvement around the world. There's no one who can correctly pin at the moment exactly how much the war in Iraq, for example, has cost so far.
But clearly we're not very happy to see what has happened. We're never happy when people are pressured.
You have been reported as saying that the messiah is managing the daily affairs of the Iranian economy. In Iran, there are widespread reports of galloping inflation, massive unemployed, massive flight of capital and rampant corruption that you yourself have criticized. Do you deserve any responsibility for that?
I'm not aware where you found that quote from. The government is responsible for the economy.
Both on the east and western borders of our country, there are two big wars going on, and for years sanctions have been imposed on us. It's quite natural that when world crises increase, Iran is also harmed.
The Bush administration is coming to an end. The U.N. Security Council is divided and does not seem inclined to impose new sanctions on Iran. As you come to the U.N., do you feel like you are winning this confrontation with the U.S.?
We generally do not welcome confrontations. Mr. Bush's administration has not only harmed the people of the United States but people all around the world. The principles that were pursued in addressing the propaganda around the Iranian nuclear issue were wrong and incorrect to begin with. It was a huge lie.
Sen. [Barack] Obama said he would talk with America's rivals, including Iran. Sen. [John] McCain says he won't. Who would you prefer to deal with, and how would you make a fresh start with the new administration?
