WarSclerotic

Netanyahu heads to U.N. to address Iran concerns, ease U.S. rift.

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to rule out a strike to prevent Iran from developing such a capability, and in recent weeks has demanded that Washington set unambiguous “red lines” for Tehran. (Reuters)

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Iran test-fires missiles designed to hit warships – Israel News, Ynetnews.

Just days after introducing improved air defense system, Tehran tests missiles it says can sink ships sailing in Gulf waters in less than one minute

News agencies

Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars said Tuesday that the military has test-fired four missiles during a military drill in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The report quoted Revolutionary Guard General Ali Fadavi as saying that the missiles hit a “big target” the size of a warship and sunk it within 50 seconds.

According to the report, “The missiles were fired simultaneously at a sea target as large as a warship and sank it in 50 seconds.”

Fadavi stated that “Iran’s missile systems can reach the entire Persian Gulf coastline and beyond where the US bases are.”

It was the first report of an Iranian military exercise taking place simultaneously and close to US-led joint naval maneuvers in the Persian Gulf, including mine-sweeping drills. The drill includes naval forces from Britain, France, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

The US Navy claims the maneuvers are not directly aimed at Iran, but the West and its regional allies have made clear they would react against attempts by Tehran to carry out threats to try to close critical Gulf oil shipping lanes in retaliation for tighter sanctions.

Fadavi added that the Iranian Navy plans to hold massive naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz until at least mid-2013.

According to Fars, Iran was “closely monitoring the US war-games in Persian Gulf.

“Americans’ activities are under our constant watch any moment,” Fadavi said. “Based on our latest assessments, 64 US vessels are present in the region, and the Americans claim that 20 of these vessels are participating in the drills.”

Iranian navy’s drill in December (Photo: MCT)

Over the weekend, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari boasted Iran’s “intelligence supremacy over US moves in the region,” and noted that the Islamic Republic was well informed of the details of the US-led exercise.

“We are well aware of the exact number and the position of the US surface vessels, aircrafts, submarines and minesweeping warships in the region,” Sayyari was quoted by Fars as saying.

On Saturday, Iran officially introduced its new air defense system, “meant to confront American warplanes in case of a US attack on the country.”

The system was displayed as part of a military parade held in Tehran to mark Sacred Defense Week and the 32nd anniversary of the Iraq-Iran war.

The “Raad,” or “Thunder” system, is based on Russian-made S-200 long-range missiles, but now also carries “Taer 2” (“Bird” 2) missiles, which are domestically produced by the Revolutionary Guard.

Iran claims that the system is able to intercept threats at a range of up to 50 kilometers, with the capability of hitting targets at 22,000 meters.

Iranian officials said it is “designed to confront fighter jets, cruise missiles, smart bombs, helicopters and drones.”

Jordan on the brink: Muslim Brothers mobilize for King Abdullah’s overthrow.

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report September 25, 2012, 8:50 AM (GMT+02:00)

Jordanian riot police

Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood has given King Abdullah II notice that he has until October to bow to their demand to transform the Hashemite Kingdom into a constitutional monarchy or face Arab Spring street pressure for his abdication.
debkafile’s Middle East sources report that Israeli and Saudi intelligence watchers are becoming increasingly concerned about the approaching climax of the conflict in Amman between Islamists and the throne .

For Israel, an upheaval in Jordan bodes the tightening of the Islamist noose around its borders – Egypt and Libya to the south and Syria to the north, with unpredictable consequences with regard to Jordan’s Palestinian population.
Saudi Arabia, already threatened by Iranian aggression, fears the oil kingdom may be next in line if its northern neighbor is crushed under the marching feet of the “Arab Spring.”
The oil kingdom’s royal rulers are reported to have belatedly woken up to the peril and are in a panic. They realize that their preoccupation with helping Syrian rebels overthrow Bashar Assad misdirected their attention from the enemies lurking at their own door. Thousands of articles in the Arab press in the past year have predicted that after the Muslim Brotherhood seizes power in Damascus, Amman would be next in its sights followed by Riyadh.
The latest DEBKA-Net-Weekly of Sept. 21 analyzed the plight closing in on the Jordanian monarch and outlined three of his options:

1.  He could bow to the main Muslim Brotherhood’s demand by submitting to the kingdom’s transition to a constitutional monarchy and the transfer of executive power to an MB-led government by means of the electoral reforms for which the Brothers have been pushing for years. In Jordan as in Egypt, the Brothers hope for a two-third majority in a free election.
2.  He could stand up to the Brotherhood’s demands and order his security, intelligence and military forces to crack down on the opposition. This course carries the risk of plunging Jordan into the carnage of civil war among the diverse segments of the population. The biggest dangers come from the Bedouin tribes, whose traditional allegiance to the Hashemite throne has weakened in recent years, and the Palestinians who form 60 percent of the population.

3. He could seek to negotiate a compromise through various brokers. Our sources report that several attempts at mediation have been ventured of late, but got nowhere because the Muslim Brotherhood sent its most radical leaders to the table and they left very little margin for compromise.
According to sources at the royal court, Abdullah will very soon meet with MB leaders for a personal appeal for calm after years of heated debate. Most observers believe that he has left it too late and by now the Muslim Brotherhood has got the bit between its teeth.
Indeed, according to an internal memorandum leaked to the Al-Hayat newspaper, the MB has already set a date for mass demonstrations against the King to start on Oct. 10 and ordered its members to go to work at once to mobilize at least 50,000 demonstrators for daily protests against the king and the royal family until he bows to their will.

The memorandum states: “Every member must be dedicated to communicate with his relatives, close friends, acquaintances, fellow employees and various Islamic groups and patriots…” It calls for the formation of “hotbeds to… focus on the participation of groups affiliated with universities, schools and women’s organizations.” Protesters are also advised on tactics for overcoming a security crackdown.
Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood has therefore moved forward from opposition propaganda, debating and political pressure to activism against the throne.
Both Jordanian camps are anxiously watching to see which way the wind blows in the White House.

President Barack Obama has a balancing act to resolve:  On the one hand, the Jordanian king has long been a staunch American ally and friend, its mainstay in many regional crises. On the other, Obama regards the Muslim Brotherhood as the linchpin of his external policy of outreach to the Muslim world.

Israel on high alert ahead of Yom Kippur – Israel News, Ynetnews.

Complete closure imposed on West Bank and Gaza, increased police presence and security forces deployment – all part of IDF, police preparations for ‘holiest day’ of year

Ynet

The special police alertness level which was put into effect ahead of the Rosh Hashanah holiday will continue during Yom Kippurand will only be terminated after the Simchat Torah holiday in 10 days time.

Security forces will be standing by on Tuesday and Wednesday at cemeteries, synagogues and prayer sites and thousands of police officers will be fully deployed and stationed at city entrances, areas with large crowds and sensitive locations.

The IDF has decided to impose a complete closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip from midnight on Monday and through to Midnight on Wednesday night.

Haredim carry out ‘Kaparot’ tradition on eve of Yom Kippur

The IDF has that during the closure, passage will only be allowed in humanitarian and medical cases subject to the Civil Administration. “The IDF will continue to work to protect the citizens of the State of Israel while taking the fabric of daily Palestinian life into consideration,” the IDF said.

Magen David Adom (MDA) is also on high alert ahead of the holiday due to concerns over an influx of injuries resulting from large crowds of people taking to the streets on their bicycles as well as people becoming ill while fasting.

Influx of bicycle injuries (Photo: Moti Kimchi)

MDA Director General Eli Bin directed regional managers to go to the highest alert level until the end of the Yom Kippur fast. MDA stations will be reinforced with additional paramedics, ambulances and intensive care vehicles. It is estimated that over 2,000 people will receive medical care during the fast.

Jerusalem District Police are being especially careful this year over the recent Muslim protests and the fallout over the anti-Islamic film.

Police, Border Guard officers and volunteers will be stationed at roadblocks in order to prevent traffic from the east to west side of the capital in order to prevent clashes between Jews and Arabs.

On high alert

Police stress that alternative traffic routes will be available to the residents of east Jerusalem.

Police will be deployed throughout the capital’s shopping centers as well as in the Old City and east Jerusalem in order to maintain public order. Increased security is also expected on routes where worshippers are expected in order to prevent stone throwing incidents.

Tel Aviv will also be increasing police presence. In addition to security around the city’s synagogues, hotels and certain neighborhoods in Yaffo will also have increased police presence.

Hospitals will continue to work over the Yom Kippur holiday but only emergency cases will be admitted. The emergency room, delivery rooms and ICU will be operating as usual.

AFP: White House rejects Republican attacks on Libya.

(AFP) – 11 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The White House Monday slammed “desperate and offensive” Republicans over claims President Barack Obama dismissed the death of the US envoy to Libya and anti-US attacks as “bumps in the road.”

The president was also taken to task by his foes in the highly charged political environment before the November 6 election, for referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warnings over Iran as “noise.”

Obama said in an interview with CBS show “60 Minutes” broadcast Sunday that there were going to be “bumps in the road” following the Arab spring as nations dominated by Islam and formerly governed by dictators evolve.

Republicans, seeking to dent Obama’s electoral advantage over his challenger Mitt Romney on foreign policy, quickly attacked the president, suggesting he was downplaying the killings of four Americans in Libya.

“That assertion is both desperate and offensive,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

“The president was referring to the transformations in the region, to this process that only began less than two years ago … with remarkable transformations occurring in countries around the region.”

Carney said the nations rocked by the Arab Spring revolutions were facing huge challenges as they evolve from autocracies to what Washington hopes will be democratic states responsive to the aspirations of their people.

“This transformation will not happen overnight, and it will encounter challenges along the way, as we’ve seen,” Carney said.

Republicans quickly seized upon Obama’s remarks, with every remark of either candidate grist for political attack and manipulation with the election just over 40 days away.

“I guess when u win a Nobel Peace Prize for doing nothing, an attack that kills an Ambassador is just a ‘bump in the road,'” former George W. Bush presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer said on Twitter.

Eric Cantor, a Republican leader in the House of Representatives also hammered Obama.

“Even as the black flags of al-Qaeda are being hoisted over our embassies and our consulates attacked by terrorists, President Obama considers these problems no more than bumps in the road for his foreign policy,” he said.

The Romney campaign and the Republican National Committee also bombarded reporters with emails criticizing Obama’s comments.

The president told “60 Minutes” that he believed he had been correct to align US policy with demonstrators demanding freedom for autocrats, even if the reality of politics in the Arab world was now much more volatile.

“I was pretty certain and continue to be pretty certain that there are going to be bumps in the road because — you know, in a lot of these places– the one organizing principle– has been Islam,” he said.

“There are strains of extremism, and anti-Americanism, and anti-Western sentiment. And you know (these) can be tapped into by demagogues.”

Obama also said he agreed with Netanyahu’s insistence that Iran not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons as this would threaten both countries, the world in general, and kick off an arms race.

But Obama added: “When it comes to our national security decisions — any pressure that I feel is simply to do what’s right for the American people. And I am going to block out — any noise that’s out there.”

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican chairwoman of the House International Relations Committee, issued a statement through the Romney campaign condemning Obama’s remarks.

“The President of the United States must be unwavering in his commitment and resolve to standing with our most loyal democratic ally.

“President Obama has fallen far short of that, which is one of the reasons we must have Mitt Romney in the White House,” she said.

Carney rejected the Republican charge.

“The president was making clear that his commitment and this country’s commitment to Israel and Israel’s security is as strong as ever and unbreakable in nature. There’s obviously a lot of noise around this issue at times.”

via Romney slams Obama on foreign policy – Right Turn – The Washington Post.

By Jennifer Rubin

Despite the efforts of the president’s most ardent fans in the blogosphere, his “60 Minutes” train wreck, combined with revelations that the administration was telling a fable — the YouTube video made them do it — until forced to concede the embassy attacks were coordinated, terroristic and anti-American — the first clue should have been the burning flags, anti-American chants and al-Qaeda black flags — the president’s foreign policy stewardship is coming under assault.

Mitt Romney went on attack: “Look, the world looks at the events going on. They don’t see these events as bumps in the road. These are lives. This is humanity. This is freedom. Freedom must be on the march. We must stand for freedom. I see these extraordinary aircraft here and know that behind them are men and women who’ve flown them in peace, in times of danger. They fly them to protect us. They fly to make sure the world is a safer place. American leadership is derived from a strong military, which, by the way, is derived from a strong economy, which is derived from strong values and principles. I will strengthen America by restoring the principles that made us the hope of the Earth!”

According to a Jan Crawford tweet, Romney in a CBS interview also punched back, accusing the administration of “jumping the gun” in concluding (and then repeating for days) that the attacks weren’t coordinated. Well, they did have that one coming.

Tensions run high at the State Department where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s spokesman let loose the f-word in response to normal questioning about the consulate attack in Benghazi, Libya. (Poor Romney aide Rick Gorka got slammed for days for far less when he tried to quiet reporters shouting questions at the Polish Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Walter Russell Mead cracks that the “Middle East mess now so ghastly that even the MSM [is] beginning, gingerly, to ask whether [President Obama] knows what he is doing.” Well, obviously he doesn’t, and has once again shown that without a teleprompter he’s a mess.

Conservatives are lashing out. Former ambassador John Bolton, a Romney adviser who is increasingly taking a leading role as a foreign policy surrogate, put out a statement: “President Obama recently characterized Israel’s concern about the prospect of a nuclear Iran as ‘noise,’ and, to add insult to injury, knocked Israel down a notch to simply ‘one of our closest allies in the region.’ But the fact of the matter is that Israel is without a doubt our closest and most reliable ally in the region. Its concerns about an Iran armed with a nuclear weapon aren’t simply noise; they are central not only to self-preservation and security, but also to peace. These comments offer just the latest indication that President Obama doesn’t fully grasp the seriousness of the foreign policy challenges facing our nation.”

A number of Republican senators are also calling for Obama to set the record straight at the United Nations. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) put out a statement:

In his speech before the UN on Tuesday, President Obama should reiterate the United States’ unwavering resolve to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. He should strongly condemn the ongoing civilian massacres in Syria and single out the governments of Iran, China and Russia as accomplices to Assad’s murderous campaign against the Syrian people. He should renew America’s commitment to our democratic allies and partners in Asia and the peaceful and lasting resolution of entrenched territorial disputes in that region.

In light of the recent attacks against the United States and our interests in the Middle East and North Africa, President Obama should use this platform to make clear to the leaders and citizens of these parts of the world that they are facing a moment of truth. If they want America’s friendship and support in advancing the shared strategic goals of security and prosperity, they will need to act responsibly and speak consistently – in English and Arabic – about the true impediments to a better future. If the Arab Spring is to eventually bring security, freedom, opportunity and prosperity to these nations that have spent decades in darkness under an iron fist, their leaders must be honest with their people about the true nature of freedom and the need to reject radical Islamists and the violence that threatens their futures

In other words, stop pretending we’ve merely hit a “bump in the road.” Sen. John Barrasso (R- Wyo.) took a similar approach.

It is amusing to see so many mainstream reporters and lefty bloggers, who couldn’t get enough of Romney’s comments just after the Egyptian attack, now effectively putting their fingers in their ears and ignoring the news. This is how the lefty blogosphere harms its own candidate, lessening the sense of urgency and giving the White House even more reason to think they’ve got this whole election wired.

We’ll see. If nothing else it is yet another revealing moment of media hypocrisy.

White House defends position on I… JPost – Diplomacy & Politics.

Iran nuclear program: Clever threat to attack the U.S. aimed at Israel | Full Comment | National Post.

Reuters An Iranian surface-to-sea missile is fired during war games near the Strait of Hormuz.

As tensions remain high between the Israelis and Iranians, the latter have made a bold, but clever, move: They have threatened to retaliate against American targets if Israel bombs Iran.

The U.S. isn’t stupid, of course. It knows full well that its bases in the region are within range of Iran’s medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Just like its bases in Asia are vulnerable to Chinese or North Korean missiles. This is why the U.S. has been rushing to develop local ballistic-missile defences, based aboard warships, that can provide local protection from incoming missiles.

Those defences, though, while generally successful during tests, are not a guarantee. No defensive system is perfect. If Iran fires a volley of missiles at the U.S. Navy base in Qatar, for example, some will undoubtedly be shot down, but others won’t be. Iran could hurt the U.S. badly, probably worse than it could hurt Israel, which has significant anti-missile defences and also has the benefit of being further away (thus giving it more reaction time and putting it out of range of Iran’s medium-range missiles).

Interestingly, however, Iran’s threat is not based on the damage it could do to the U.S. A concerted Iranian missile strike on U.S. forces in the region could kill a lot of U.S. personnel and destroy expensive military equipment. But the U.S. would still be able to mount a counter-strike, using only conventional weapons, that would devastate the Iranian military and the ruling regime. But this is still good news for Iran — because launching that kind of counter-strike would be the last thing the U.S. would want to do.

That’s the real method behind Iran’s madness. It knows it cannot defeat the U.S. in a conventional war, but it knows that the U.S. doesn’t want to fight one. But if Iran does attack U.S. bases, kills U.S. troops and destroys U.S. military assets, the United States would be compelled to respond. And not a mild response, either, like lobbing a few cruise missiles at an intelligence headquarters or something of a similarly limited response.

If U.S. bases were under attack, the U.S. would need to respond so decisively as to eliminate the continuing threat to their forces. That would mean taking out Iran’s air force. All of it. Ditto its navy. It would mean hunting down and bombing any missile that hadn’t yet been launched before it could be. And it would mean doing as much damage as possible to the Revolutionary Guards.

Such an outcome would be terrific for Israel, of course. And well within the military capabilities of the U.S. But it would be an expensive, bloody and complicated mess. U.S. allies in the region would freak out that bases on their soil were being attacked. Casualties on the U.S. side could be heavy. All sorts of pricy and high-tech munitions would be expended. In contrast to recent U.S. or Western operations, there would be a high likelihood of the Iranian’s shooting down attacking planes or sinking enemy ships. Iran is not Iraq or Libya. Iran has teeth.

There is also, of course, the political dimension. The U.S. election is six weeks away. If re-elected, President Obama won’t be any more inclined to do battle with the mullahs then than he is now. And a President Romney would need to focus on fixing the U.S. economy and building an international profile. A war with Iran would complicate the former and seriously compromise the latter. Romney might see value in talking tough on Iran during an election campaign. But the last thing he’ll want is a shooting war soon into his first term.

All of this is in some ways reminiscent of the Cuban Missile Crisis. President John F. Kennedy famously warned the Soviets that any missiles fired by Cuba at any neighbouring country would trigger a full U.S. retaliatory response against the Soviet Union. Iran is playing a similar card here, telling a distant nation that it will be dragged into a fight that it might be otherwise tempted to dismiss as a regional skirmish. To avoid having to deal with this headache, the U.S. will be redoubling its already strong pressure on Israel to hold is fire and be patient.

That was Iran’s goal, of course. It doesn’t want a war with the U.S., either. But it knows that the U.S. has already decided that war is off the table. Computer viruses, sanctions, assassinations, sure. But not war. Iran’s playing on that, to box in Israel. It’s a clever move.

National Post
mgurney@nationalpost.com

Iran accuses Israel of ‘threatening’ U.S. with allegations of Iranian nuclear weapon – The Washington Post.

In New York, defiant Ahmadinejad says Israel will be “eliminated” – chicagotribune.com.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad looks on at the opening ceremony of the OIC summit in Mecca (SUSAN BAAGHIL, REUTERS / August 15, 2012)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday disregarded a U.N. warning to avoid incendiary rhetoric and declared ahead of the annual General Assembly session that Israel has no roots in the Middle East and would be “eliminated.”

In remarks to reporters in New York, he also said he does not take seriously the threat that Israel could launch a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, denied sending arms into Syria, and called economic conditions in his sanctions-hit country “not as bad as they are portrayed.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted Israel could strike Iran’s nuclear sites and has criticized U.S. President Barack Obama’s position that sanctions and diplomacy should be given more time to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran denies that it is seeking nuclear arms and says its atomic work is peaceful, aimed at generating electricity.

“Fundamentally we do not take seriously the threats of the Zionists. … We have all the defensive means at our disposal and we are ready to defend ourselves,” Ahmadinejad said.

He is in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly. His speech is scheduled for Wednesday.

On Sunday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with Ahmadinejad and warned him of the dangers of incendiary rhetoric in the Middle East. Ahmadinejad did not heed the warning.

Ahmadinejad alluded to his previous rejection of Israel’s right to exist. “Iran has been around for the last seven, 10 thousand years. They (the Israelis) have been occupying those territories for the last 60 to 70 years, with the support and force of the Westerners. They have no roots there in history,” he said, speaking to reporters through an interpreter.

The modern state of Israel was founded in 1948.

“We do believe that they have found themselves at a dead end and they are seeking new adventures in order to escape this dead end. Iran will not be damaged with foreign bombs,” Ahmadinejad said, referring to Israel.

“We don’t even count them as any part of any equation for Iran. During a historical phase, they represent minimal disturbances that come into the picture and are then eliminated,” Ahmadinejad added.

In 2005, Ahmadinejad called Israel a “tumor” and echoed the words of the former Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, by saying that Israel should be wiped off the map.

Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a brigadier general in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was quoted on Sunday as saying that Iran could launch a pre-emptive strike on Israel if it was sure the Jewish state was preparing to attack it.

Ahmadinejad said the nuclear issue was one ultimately between the United States and Iran, and must be resolved with negotiations.

He added, “The nuclear issue is not a problem. But the approach of the United States on Iran is important. We are ready for dialogue, for a fundamental resolution of the problems, but under conditions that are based on fairness and mutual respect.”

“We are not expecting a 33-year-old problem between the United States and Iran to be resolved in a speedy fashion. But there is no other way besides dialogue,” Ahmadinejad said.

U.S. President Barack Obama will underscore his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and address Muslim unrest related to an anti-Islamic video in his speech to General Assembly on Tuesday, the White House said.

‘BULLYING COUNTRIES’

Ahmadinejad also addressed a high-level meeting on the rule of law at the United Nations on Monday, saying states should not yield to international law as imposed “by bullying countries.”

In the past, Ahmadinejad has used his U.N. speeches to defend Iran’s nuclear program and to attack Israel, the United States and Europe. He has questioned the Holocaust and cast doubt on whether 19 hijackers were really responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001.

Western envoys typically walk out of Ahmadinejad’s speeches in protest.

Ahmadinejad said on Monday that Iran – under U.N., U.S. and European Union sanctions over its nuclear program – is used to economic restrictions and is not severely affected by them.

“The conditions in Iran are not as bad as they are portrayed by some,” Ahmadinejad said, adding that his country can survive without oil revenues.

Ahmadinejad added that Iran’s economy is in much better shape that that of the EU, which he said was “on the verge of disintegration and collapse.”

Iran has held several rounds of talks this year on the nuclear issue with six world powers: the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain – as well as Germany. The six powers are represented by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said last Wednesday that he and Ashton had agreed to defer more nuclear talks until the latter had consulted the six powers on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly this week.

There will be high-level side meetings on Iran’s nuclear program and the Syrian conflict during the General Assembly, but U.N. diplomats do not expect either issue to be resolved soon.

‘WE SEEK PEACE IN SYRIA’

The United Nations and Western officials have accused Iran of supplying weapons to Syria’s pro-government forces, while Syria’s government has accused Qatar and Saudi Arabia of arming rebels determined to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

Ahmadinejad rejected the charge that Iran was sending arms to Syria. “The so-called news that you alluded to has been denied vehemently, officially,” Ahmadinejad said in a response to a question. “We seek peace in Syria. We like and love both sides. … We see both sides as equally our brothers.”

“In Syria, the intervention and meddling from outside have made conditions that much tougher,” Ahmadinejad said. “We must help to quell the violence and help … (facilitate) a national dialogue.”

A U.N. Security Council panel of independent experts that monitors sanctions against Iran has uncovered several examples of Iran transferring arms to Syria. The United States and Britain say they are providing non-lethal assistance to Syria’s rebels such as communications equipment, but not arms.

Ahmadinejad also addressed the issue of a California-made anti-Islam video, “The Innocence of Muslims,” that has sparked anti-American protests around the Muslim world. He appeared to reject Washington’s position that while it condemns the video’s content, freedom of expression must be upheld.

“Freedoms must not interfere with the freedoms of others,” Ahmadinejad said. “If someone insults, what would you do? … Is insulting other people not a form of crime?”

Since the controversy over the video erupted this month, some Muslim leaders have reiterated calls for a U.N. measure outlawing insults to Islam and blasphemy in general.

Ahmadinejad also was asked about a move by an Iranian religious foundation, in response to the “The Innocence of Muslims,” to increase its reward for the killing of British author Salman Rushdie.

“Where is he now?” Ahmadinejad asked of Rushdie. “Is he in the United States? If he is, you shouldn’t broadcast that for his own safety.”

Rushdie, an Indian-born British novelist who has nothing to do with the video, was condemned to death in 1989 by Khomeini, Iran’s late leader, over his novel “The Satanic Verses,” saying its depiction of the Prophet Mohammad was blasphemous.

Iran has a two-term limit for presidents. Ahmadinejad, widely seen as out of favor with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ends his second term next year. “But that does not mean I will be separating myself from politics,” he said.

(Writing by Michelle Nichols and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Will Dunham)