Iranian policy causes international dismay

Despite widespread condemnation of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comment earlier this week calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map," at a rally in Tehran today the Iranian President remained adamant that his remarks were "just".

Although official Iranian government policy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the initial comments made by Mr Ahmadinejad on Wednesday attracted criticism from the UN General Secretary Kofi Annan.

The Iranian President's comments prompted calls from Israel for Iran to be expelled from the UN.

Tony Blair said that he wished to express his "revulsion" at the comments made by Mr Ahmadinejad.

In a statement, the UN Secretary-General expressed his "dismay" regarding the remarks about Israel attributed to the President of Iran.

A UN spokesperson said Mr Annan wished to remind "all member states that Israel is a long-standing member of the United Nations with the same rights and obligations as every other member".

"He recalls in particular that, under the United Nations Charter, all members have undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state."

It is understood that Mr Annan is to visit Iran in the next few weeks, to discuss "other issues".

But the spokesperson said: "The Middle East peace process, and the right of all states in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force, at the top of his agenda for that visit".

The Prime Minister at a press conference confirmed that the Iranian charges d'affaires had been called to the Foreign Office to receive a protest.

Mr Blair at an EU press conference said: "We will have discussions with our main allies over the next few days. And this of course is the position that Iran has had, it is just that it has been expressed again and maybe people are just noticing this.

"I have got to say I am sure there are people in Iran in their leadership who believe that the world is sufficiently distracted with everything else, that we can't really afford the time to focus on this issue. And I think they would be making a very big mistake if they do that.

"These sentiments are completely and totally unacceptable," said Mr Blair. "I have never come across a situation of the President of a country saying they want to wipe out, not that they have got a problem with, or an issue with, but want to wipe out another country. This is unacceptable."

The Prime Minister was also critical of the Iranian attitude towards terrorism and the nuclear weapons issue.

"If they continue down this path then people are going to believe that they are a real threat to our world security and stability.

"And as I say, they may believe that with everything else, the eyes of the world will be elsewhere, but I felt a real sense of revulsion at those remarks, and to anybody in Europe, knowing our history, when we hear statements like that made about Israel, it makes us feel very angry.

"It is just completely wrong, this, and it indicates and underlines I am afraid how much some of those places need reform themselves."

(SP/KMcA)