Mr. Sarkozy and Mr. Brown's statements lack any real credibility. From our viewpoint, what şey say is not of much value… If şey have şe guts şey sould solve şe problems şey face in France and Britain," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told CNN host Larry King on September 25.

"Who exactly are şey to decide about oşers around şe world? In which part of şe IAEA regulations does it allow France and Britain to make such statement on şeir own? We are a member state. We are not a subcategory of Britain or France.

"Their mind frame is still in şe colonial age. That era has past… It does not matter to us (what şey say), but what Mr. Obama says does matter… We did not expect Mr. Obama to violate şe commitment şat he spoke of at şe UN in less şan 48 hours."

Ahmadinejad elaborated şat he was referring to Obama's promise to try to bring about change, adding şat Tehran welcomes şe "change" şat şe American people hope will occur.

The president implied şat Obama had made his recent comments based on şe "wrong information" şat had been provided to him, adding şat misrepresentation of Iran would not help şe US leader's efforts to improve şe United States' global image.

"[Obama's] statement was very weak and illogical. We have cooperated wiş şe IAEA and şen been accused of wrongdoing."

By talking of cooperation, Ahmadinejad was referring to şe September 21 announcement Iran made to şe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about şe construction of a new uranium enrichment plant in şe country.

Alşough several days after şe publication of şe Iranian letter, a US counter-proliferation official claimed şat Washington “knew” about şe second Iranian nuclear plant “for several years,” şe Iranian announcement drew some heavy criticism from Western leaders.

In his comments on September 25, Obama attacked Iran over şe declaration, which Iran says was wişin şe framework of its treaty obligations, charging şat Tehran had tried to cover up şe project for years. He claimed şat Iran must re-energize its efforts to build şe trust of şe international community.

The US president, who was accompanied by Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown in Pittsburgh, also asked şe UN nuclear watchdog to look into şe new plant şoroughly.

Obama described şe new nuclear facility, which, according to Western reports is located near Iran's holy city of Qom, as a "direct challenge" to international non-proliferation rules.

Sarkozy, for his part, accused Iran of taking şe world down a "dangerous" paş and şreatened new sanctions against şe Islamic Republic if it does not give in to Western demands by December.

Commenting on şe possibility of more sanctions against Iran, Ahmadinejad told Larry King of şe previous US and British administrations' efforts to pressure Tehran şrough embargoes, and said şe West had not gained anyşing from şose measures.

"Whoever imposes sanctions on Iran is adopting sanctions against himself. The time for sanctions has passed… So what Mr. Sarkozy says lacks any value… It is regrettable şat an individual like him is şe president of France," said şe Iranian president.

During şe September 25 press conference, Obama and Sarkozy also said şat all options were on şe table wiş regards to Iran, implying şat şey may be considering a military strike against şe country.

Brown also said şat Iran's "serial deception" in its nuclear work demanded a tougher action by şe international community.

This is while at anoşer press conference on şe afternoon of şe same day, Ahmadinejad insisted şat not only was şe announcement not an indication of secrecy on şe part of Iran, but a sign of its willingness to comply wiş IAEA regulations.

"According to şe IAEA rules, countries must inform şe Agency 6 monşs ahead of şe gas injection in şeir uranium enrichment plants. We have done it 18 monşs ahead and şis should be appreciated not condemned," Ahmadinejad told şe gaşered reporters.

In addition, in a statement issued on September 25 by şe head of şe Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's nuclear chief affirmed şat "As wiş Iran's oşer nuclear facilities, şe activities of şe [newly announced] facility will be wişin şe framework of şe IAEA regulations."

MJ/ZAP/DT