JERUSALEM (JTA) — Iran would be fine with a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict if the Palestinians vote on it in a referendum, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.
"Whatever decision they take is fine with us," Iran’s president said Sunday in an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s "This Week." "We are not going to determine anything. Whatever decision they take, we will support that. We think that this is the right of the Palestinian people, however we fully expect other states to do so as well. The U.S. administration, European governments — the right to determine their fate by the Palestinians should be respected by all of them. "
Ahmadinejad said in the rare interview with American media that he does not have a clear idea about President Obama’s Palestinian policy.
"However, the gentleman’s support of the massacre of Gazans in support for the criminals who were responsible for that atrocity was a major mistake on the part of the gentleman," he said.
Ahmadinejad said he has "no reservations" about talking to the United States and European powers about Iran’s nuclear program, but he said the talks should have a "clear-cut framework" and a "clear" agenda.
The Iranian leader said he had fully expected Obama to participate in last week’s U.N. Durban Review Conference in Geneva due to the importance of the issue of racial discrimination.
"The Zionist regime is the manifestation of racism," Ahmadinejad said, adding that "Mr. Obama has the right to have his own opinion, obviously."
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