Iran accuses West of 'artificially' higher oil prices, said war is a threat 'joke'
The president of Iran has blamed the West for "artificially" raise oil prices, and dismissed fears that Israel and the U.S. could be preparing to attack his country as a "fun of the joke."
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on a visit to Malaysia, said at a press conference on Tuesday that world oil production is much more than consumption, suggesting that the economy today are not behind the record high price.
"Therefore, it is very clear and evident that the market does not have a role in raising prices. There are some others who are determining oil prices for the benefit of a few, very rich in the world," he said.
In his typical combative manner, Ahmadinejad criticized Iran's arch enemy, the United States, in each response. The Washington blamed by the world economic crisis and maintaining an arsenal of nuclear weapons, while Tehran are opposed to the "peaceful" nuclear program. He also questioned the U.S. permanent membership in the Security Council of the UN, the occupation of Iraq, and what responsible for the production of illegal drugs in Afghanistan.
Ahmadinejad said that the high price of oil - which are hovering around 140 U.S. dollars per barrel - are the result of the weak dollar and a deliberate decision of the United States and some European countries to benefit from fuel taxes high. In some European countries, 70 percent of the cost of fuel goes to governments such as taxes, he said.
"The meaning of this is that the income of these countries is much higher than those countries that produce and export oil," said Ahmadinejad, whose country is the second largest producer of the Organization of Petroleum exporting countries.
He said that the U.S. can also use the "artificially high oil prices" as justification to launch politically sensitive exploration in the North Pole.
Predictably, Ahmadinejad took potshots at U.S. President George W. Bush, but expressed the hope that the next administration to rebuild the reputation of americas in the eyes of the world.
"Today, the U.S. government is on the verge of bankruptcy - economic policy," he said, speaking through an interpreter.
The animosity between Iran and the United States and Israel stems from its nuclear program. Tehran insists it is only for peaceful purposes, like energy production. But the Bush administration cree que es to make nuclear weapons. Although Washington says it prefers a diplomatic solution to the impasse, U.S. and Israel have not ruled out the military option.
Ahmadinejad said the two countries were "focused on propaganda and psychological warfare."
"Before, it would be regarded as a serious problem," he said.
But the Iranians are so accustomed to threats that now treat it as a "spectacle lot of fun. ... This kind of wars are seen as a fun of the joke."
He added: "I assure you that there will be no war in the future."
Asked to clarify his previous calls for the destruction of Israel, Ahmadinejad gave a long and winding answer, saying he has nothing against Jews, but only against the "Zionists" Israel's rule.
He predicted that Israel is "Zionist regime" would collapse without the need for any Iranian action.
Source: The Jakarta Post Online
