Washington: Stating that the "era of nuclear bombs is over", Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has attacked the countries stockpiling atomic weapons as "politically and mentally retarded”.
"We have already expressed our views about nuclear bombs... Those who are seeking to build nuclear bombs or those who stockpile, they are politically and mentally retarded," Ahmadinejad said in an interview to CNN.
Asserting that Iran`s controversial nuclear programme was just for peaceful purposes, he said, "They are stupid because the era of nuclear bombs is over."
Ahmadinejad said the overall budget of Iran`s atomic energy agency is USD 250 million, and the whole budget is aimed at "peaceful activities”.
"Iranians are clever enough to see that with this limited amount of money, USD 250 million, we are not able to be at war with the other side," he said.
US-led Western nations are locked in a stand-off with Iran over its nuclear programme, which they allege is aimed at building a nuclear weapon. However, Tehran rejects this claim and insists it`s only for peaceful purposes.
The Iranian President also warned that any US military action against his country will be "sheer stupidity".
"I ask a question, `What are the American bases doing in our region?` Even the current year, they made military contract amounting to USD 90 billion with the countries of the region."
"If the United States is not going to provoke tension in our region, and if they do not make artificial threats, they would not be able to sell their arms," he said.
Suggesting the US leaders to review their policies, he said: "They have more than 1,000 billions of dollars for military budget. If they spend this money for the American economy, is it necessary for the people to go to Wall Street? Would there remain any difference or hostility? Whenever they resist hostility anywhere in the world, that could be attributed to the United States or to one of its allies."
"The United States has become weaker and weaker. And now, they are hated in the region. They are hated in the whole world. Anywhere in the world, if you go, you see that the US government is hated."
"They should review their policies. They should stop accusing other countries. They should see where the problem is. Maybe the problem is really in the United States itself. This is a friendly recommendation," he said.
He also said that Iran will encourage its close ally Syria to reach an understanding with anti-regime protesters.
PTI
