Ahmadinejad says Israel has 'no roots' in Middle East

This transcript is automatically generated

But first from fox at 3 o'clock in New York City -- -- -- start to the United Nations General Assembly the -- -- -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is always entertaining.

Today marks the gathering of more than a 120 world leaders would -- slams on Israel the United States and members of the UN Security Council that was not entertaining at all.

Of course western nations including United States and hit Iran with some tough penalties on its banking system and its oil industry amid concerns that Iran is trying to develop a nuclear bomb.

And the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling for the United States to draw a line in the sand on Iran's nuclear activities.

Iran continues to claim that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Well today the Iranian President operated -- -- -- the United States and others for supporting Israel in the first place.

Israel which he calls a fake regime.

Listen.

-- -- We have business that some members of the Security Council.

With the movies are always have chosen silence this regard for the nuclear warheads.

All the fake regime.

-- and that's the same time they -- scientific -- list of other nations.

President Ahmadinejad also denied accusations that his government is propping up the regime in Syria.

The regime that is killing its own people.

The -- -- leader also touched on the deadly anti American backlash apparently over that.

Amateur video that mocked a Prophet Mohamed saying we need laws to protect the quote.

Divine profits.

The fox -- chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt has the news and he is live the United Nations this afternoon.

I guess that's a bit of a preview of what -- ready to -- will deliver on Wednesday.

Certainly seems so -- and president Ahmadinejad seems as determined as ever to be as controversial.

I'm confrontational.

As ever today in a meeting with reporters at his midtown Manhattan hotel.

He essentially mocked the idea that Israel may launch an attack against Iran's nuclear facilities listen.

Fundamentally we do not take seriously death threats of the zionist vis a -- an attack on I ran by them.

Even though I ran at the end of the day is a great country and let me assure you we do have all defensive means at our disposal and we are ready to defend.

Ourselves.

Now the White House responded to those down to other controversial comments drew National Security Council spokesman -- -- who said quote.

President Ahmadinejad comment -- characteristically.

Disgusting.

Offensive.

And outrageous they underscore again why America's commitment to the security of Israel must be unshakable.

And why the world must hold Iran accountable for its off to a failure to meet its obligations -- idea.

President -- Jake did your dad had met with UN Secretary General bank Ki -- -- warned him against quote incendiary rhetoric it appears that Iran's president.

Is ignoring that warning completely once again -- So he'll speak before the general assembly on Wednesday but really that's not the only speaks is gonna attract a lot of attention Jonathan.

There are a lot of very interesting speeches to -- -- listen to this week the day off to president Ahmadinejad speaks.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak and that.

Is likely to be a call to arms for the entire world to unite against Iran's nuclear.

Ambitions of course there are also speeches by the leaders of many of the countries that have gone through the so called Arab Spring.

Among them Egypt's new Islamist president Mohamed mall site.

He is likely to touch on the violence that gripped his and other countries recently in the wake of that allegedly anti Islamic video.

I think secretary of state Hillary Clinton touched on that today.

In his speech -- -- husband's Clinton Global Initiative and said the world must unite against the sort of violence we have seen.

And unity on this throughout the international community is crucial.

Because extremists around the world are working hard to drive us apart.

All of us need to stand together to resist these forces and to support democratic.

Transitions under way in North Africa and the Middle East.

Of course unity it seems is going to be very -- to come by.

Of the United Nations this week -- in the breath holding here Jonathan Hunt at the UN Jonathan thanks a lot.

Let's bring in a contributor -- -- of foreign affairs columnist and author of the book.

Nuclear showdown North Korea takes on the world Gordon Chang is -- this looks like we just a big old mess up there with an -- image I mean.

So you know.

-- you know the one thing about this UN general assembly meeting it brings together the worst leaders in the world and he gives them a stage to talk to the international community a very large stage.

Now we can -- but we need to show up.

And really unfortunately this time we're not showing up what -- was -- Well the president is coming in he's giving a speech and he's not meeting other world leaders he's leaving all of this to Secretary Clinton really to try to.

Keep the world together this is a dangerous situation you know at the worst trends of 1914 -- 1939.

Together at the same time.

And we really need the United States to be there to show leadership not from behind but from the front.

Secretary Clinton is not leading from the front.

-- she's doing her best but remember she is probably not going to be the secretary of state in three or four months time and and world leaders know that.

Really what they want to do is they want to see the president of the United States because he is the one who embodies American leadership.

What would that accomplish.

I mean it was we're we're allegedly by the White House that they're they're talking all the time whenever they need -- -- talking about Benjamin Netanyahu that's -- the White House tells well he's not talking to Netanyahu he's not talking to just as they talk all the time.

I'm the -- -- and -- -- line a lot of tap his phone.

-- but the Israeli prime minister specifically requested a meeting with president and obviously a lot of politics an enemy didn't go through regular chain.

Should -- chain for it asking that for that.

And -- a lot of observers have been at this desk.

On from both -- the political while it looks like and political move on some some levels than that well nobody really does need to talk to us and we need to talk to him because.

He's very insecure at this moment in a time which is critical in the Persian gulf.

Also -- got to remember that we're not talking to the Egyptian president morsi.

And we have a lot of things on our agenda with him what -- going -- get done with -- with morsi.

I'm just curious what what you think we might be able to accomplish with.

-- that man given what we know about him.

I think that because of all the military aid that we give the egyptians and clearly this gives us some leverage.

And and if we're not gonna use that leverage and what's the purpose of supporting the regime.

I mean we've had all those problems in -- -- We can see a lot more because Egypt's relations with Israel are starting to deteriorate and we really need to have some honest conversations with them.

I haven't heard a lot of discussion about what it would really mean if Egypt's relationship is -- that treaty were to go away I mean that is.

Very serious well it really would expose Israelis -- it would make the version they knew they would really make I think.

Jerusalem insecure and and -- Jerusalem is insecure then clearly it's going to have to defend its own security especially if it thinks the United States.

Is not working closely with -- and when you talk to people in in Jerusalem that's exactly what they're saying.

You know they very well may not striker ran.

But on the other hand they're very concerned about the lack of the American support.

Is is a lack of support or a difference of opinion about how this thing should be play out should play out.

Well you know OK -- both but I think they've really more important and I think that the Israelis don't think that we are on their side because of the statements that have been made.

Really -- in much more pro Palestinian than and prior administrations.

It's not so much what we say but how we say it and for instance not -- an Israeli prime minister when he -- war.

Regardless of the politics regardless of the optics it's the same thing -- just going to make them crazy in Jerusalem.

-- -- Thank you very much sir nice to see you thank you -- -- your money turns out your free.

Watch Live

Ahmadinejad says Israel has 'no roots' in Middle East

Details

Clips

Studio B

Yolanda Vega says jackpot is 'epic, record breaking'

Will IRS probe's key players face perjury charges?

OJ Simpson's former attorney takes the witness stand

IRS Bipartisan Backlash: Who else is responsible?

Jodi Arias: Defense team presents mitigating factors

IRS Controversy: Obama really not aware?

Travis Alexander's sister says 'we were robbed'

Report: Witness Protection program lost two terror suspects

Travis Alexander's friend hopes family begins to heal

Jodi Arias is eligible for execution

First Amendment Fight: Is AP snooping constitutional?

O.J. Simpson's testimony is a long-shot for freedom

Transcript

Recommended