Netanyahu is an assassin, stresses Ahmadinejad

NEW YORK: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday on a U.S. news talk show Iran does not have a nuclear weapon and has "no interest" in getting it.

In an interview with Larry King on CNN, Ahmadinejad said all nations, including the United States and Israel, should disarm.

"We are not seeking the bomb," he said. "We have no interest in it and we do not think that it is useful."

Asked about concern within Israel and the United States that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, Ahmadinejad called Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu a killer who should "be put on trial for killing Palestinians, for putting Gaza under siege."

"The U.S. government should stop using taxpayers money to assist him," the Iranian leader said.

"Netanyahu is a professional assassin. All dictators in history accuse others to turn the spotlight away from themselves," the Iranian president said when asked about the Israeli prime minister's worries about Iran.

"It is questionable [why] American media feel responsible for this person (Netanyahu)," Ahmadinejad said, adding that "you (American media) are afraid of Netanyahu's warmongering."

Asked about Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, both 28 -- two Americans being held in Iran since July 2009 for crossing the border from Iraq -- Ahmadinejad said it was possible their cases might be expedited but that would be up to judges hearing the matter.

"I have no influence over it," he said.

However, he did acknowledge he had "suggested" the case of Sarah Shourd -- who was arrested with Fattal and Bauer -- "be regarded with clemency, mercy and more kindness and compassion to allow her to return to her family."

Shourd, 32, returned to the United States Sunday after being locked up for more than a year. Fattal and Bauer are awaiting trial in Iran on espionage charges.

The Iranian president said the US and Israel's nuclear weapons are the main threat to the world, and they are mistaken to think they can divert attention from this issue by using propaganda campaigns and spreading lies about others.

"Iran is firmly after the nuclear disarmament of the US and Israel."

Ahmadinejad added that Israel is an "illegitimate regime" and an "occupier" and that the US easily starts wars and massacres people, "they are not qualified to have nuclear weapons and should be disarmed as soon as possible."