Iran Video & Transcript: Ahmadinejad on ABC News "US Hikers, Sanctions, & Human Rights" (19 September)

And so Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's US media tour begins, only hours after he arrived in New York. The first interview was with Christiane Amanpour of ABC News's This Week:

AMANPOUR: Mr. president thank you for joining us. The United States is very pleased that you've released Sarah Shourd, and the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, has said that she wants the other two, Josh and Shane, to be released also, a humanitarian gesture.

AHMADINEJAD: It is true that the Islamic Republic of Iran took a humanitarian measure and released one of the three individuals who entered our borders Ms. Sarah Shourd. This was a huge humanitarian gesture.

Now, you may be aware that eight Iranians are illegally being detained in the United States. So I believe that it would not be misplaced to ask that the U.S. government should make a humanitarian gesture to release the Iranians who were illegally arrested and detained here in the United States.

AMANPOUR: Mr. President, I understand that the Iranians, many of them, have been convicted of various sanctions-busting and arms-busting. Are you saying you'll holding the two Americans as hostages for the release of the Iranians here?

AHMADINEJAD: No. But how would you know that those Iranians are criminals? Are you a judge?

AMANPOUR: May I show you something?

(Laura Fattal, mother of Josh Fattal) We thank you for bringing Sarah home, but now it is time for bringing Josh and Shane home. And we urge you, again, with your humanitarianism of the Islamic Republic of Iran to show the same compassion you had for Sarah to bring Josh and Shane home (Cindy hickey, mother of Shane Bauer) Last May when you were here, you talked about being a friend to the American people. Shane and Josh are American people. Their families are American people. Please release both of them back to their families.

AHMADINEJAD: We are saddened that there are individuals in prison and it makes us unhappy when people are in prison anywhere in the world, whether in Iran or in the United States or elsewhere. We want people to be free and not to suffer. But at the end of the day, there's a law that determines who stays in prison and who does not.

AMANPOUR: And do you think they'll be released any time soon? Would you intervene like you did for Sarah?

AHMADINEJAD: I would give a recommendation, but the cases have to be examined. They violated the law.

AMANPOUR: Let's move on to the nuclear issue. The United States, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton told me that they would like to have a discussion with Iran in P5 plus One over the nuclear issue. Before Ramadan Iran said it was looking to have another meeting. But there's been no further word on it. Are you going to have a meeting with the United States in the P 5 plus one on the nuclear issue?

AHMADINEJAD: On this trip?

AMANPOUR: Anytime soon.

AHMADINEJAD: Yes. we will have a plan to discuss things, to discuss issues. We've always been ready to discuss issues as long as there within the legal framework and based on principles of justice and respect. but having said that all our nuclear reactor activities are being controlled by cameras, the material that is moved is weighed and it's examined and controlled so as far as the IAEA supervision is concerned there's no blockage of that supervision.

Now some of these individuals have released our nuclear information. Information that we have provided which is illegal. The IAEA is required by its statute to protect that information not to release it. And plus the IAEA is aware of several other violations that they have permitted.

Now we believe that here in the United States is pressing the IAEA to take a political position on the issue. Once the IAEA does that it's work becomes worthless and ineffective.

AMANPOUR: Sanctions? The United Nations, the United States, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Russia, China, everybody's put sanctions on Iran. Are you surprised that they were so uniform?

AHMADINEJAD: It is meaningless to us.

AMANPOUR: Well, it is interesting that you say this.

AMANPOUR: The former president of Iran, Rafsanjani, has given a speech in which he urged you not to take the sanctions as a joke, to take them seriously. And he says that they are the most tough sanctions that Iran has ever experienced. Do you consider them a joke or do you take them seriously?

AHMADINEJAD: In Iran, people are free to make statements, to say what they think. There are no restrictions on what people say.

AMANPOUR: No, but the question is, do you take the sanctions seriously, or do you consider them a joke, ineffective, not serious?

AHMADINEJAD: We do take sanctions seriously, but taking it seriously is different from believing that they are effective. These are two different issues. We consider this and have reported it as a serious violation of international law. it was illegal. It was wrong. they wronged the people of Iran and insulting them and these sanctions will definitively mark a new level of progress in our economy. We have turned sanctions around and created opportunities out of it. Now, this doesn't mean certainly that we take it seriously, but it does not mean that it -- has a negative influence on our economy because it does not.

AMANPOUR: But this time, in fact, people are saying that it is having a negative influence. Businessmen will not be able to do enough trade. Shipping is going to be difficult. Insuring ships is going to be difficult....

AHMADINEJAD: None of this is a problem. I want to stress this is not a problem. If you want to say it's effective, why not wait for the next 6 months or a year and to see with your own eyes whether there are effects or not. And I tell you there are none.

AMANPOUR: I want to ask you about human rights. You know the lady Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani who was sentenced to stoning. Her sentence was lifted. What do you personally think of stoning? Do you think that's an appropriate sentence for anybody in today's modern Iran?

AHMADINEJAD: Why do you think that the issue of one lady in a village in Iran called Miss Mohammadi should suddenly become such a big issue for American officials?

AMANPOUR: I'm surprised that you don't think that its likely to be a big issue and it's not just American officials it's all over the world it was international

AHMADINEJAD: Allow me! Allow me!

AMANPOUR: I want to know what your view is on stoning. do you think its appropriate and fitting for a modern country and a nuclear, want to be nuclear power.

AHMADINEJAD: Why don't you finish your statement and then allow me to speak?

AMANPOUR: I'm asking your opinion.

AHMADINEJAD: Well, if you want me to speak, if you want to lecture me, you can, but that's fine...

AHMADINEJAD: I wouldn't be offended, I have a lot of patience.

AMANPOUR: OK. I'd like your opinion on stoning.

AHMADINEJAD: first, what I want to say is that Miss Mohammadi was never sentenced to stoning. This was news that was produced and incorrect, and regrettably, U.S. media affected -- was infected by U.S. politicians to make a piece of news out of it.

AMANPOUR: But the Iranian government lifted the sentence...

AHMADINEJAD: Allow me. Allow me. When I represent the Iranian government how come is it that I am unaware of what you are telling me and that you should be aware of it. This is an issue that is being considered. It is still being processed. Given that there was no sentence of stoning issued in the first place this was the news that was made up. the propaganda behind it was big and then those same murderers of people become supporters of human rights.

Now this is ancient method, an ancient method that needs to change. Its natural, anybody can have an opportunity over an issue and propagate about it. But we are opposed to the way United States manages the world, manages Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

AMANPOUR: Since we're talking about this, since you've been the President executions in Iran have increased by four times. Did you know that?

AHMADINEJAD: That is not true at all. Not at all. Not at all.

AMANPOUR: So you deny that? Independent- human rights groups say that....

AHMADINEJAD: How do they know? They haven't come to Iran.

AMANPOUR: Can I move on to ask you about the leaders of the opposition? Mr. Mousavi and Mr. Karroubi, their offices have been raided recently. Mr. Mousavi's computers have been taken and the prosecutor general in Tehran is saying a trial, and a case is being built against them and that they will go to trial, if and once public opinion is readied. Is that something that you approve of? That you agree with? Do you know that a case is being prepared against Mr. Mousavi and or Mr. Karroubi?

AHMADINEJAD: If they wanted to build a case they should have done it last year.

AMANPOUR: So, you dont think it is happening.....

AHMADINEJAD: I don't think it is even necessary. They were free. They're still free. They are going on with their daily lives.

(CROSS TALK)

AMANPOUR: Why did he say that then that the trial will take place?

AHMADINEJAD: Who said? Who said this?

AMANPOUR: Mr. Jafari Dolatabadi. A trial would take place when it will be in the interest of the ruling establishment and once public opinion is ready. Do you accept that? Do you agree with and approve it?

AHMADINEJAD: I do not get involved in the business of the judiciary. The judge is independent. But I think that when you translate these statements you've probably made, or interpreted and you've made a mistake in analyzing it. I am unaware of the details of what people do. The judiciary is aware of these details. But I can tell you, you gave me a piece of news, and I am telling you, that if a case was to be built it should have been done last year.

AMANPOUR: What did you think when Fidel Castro said Mr. President, stop attacking the Jews. Stop denying the Holocaust. Stop being anti-Semitic. Fidel Castro, Cuba, is a friend of Iran?

AHMADINEJAD: Well, shouldn't he be free to say what he wants? He's free to say what he wants. We've never been anti semitic, when was I anti semitic-- the Jews live in Iran, like every other person who lives in Iran freely....

AMANPOUR: You know, Hillary Clinton has told me, and she's told others that the United States is very concerned about the the increasing militarization of the Iranian government the revolutionary guard is very involved not just in its military activities but in politics in economics and business. that they're cracking down on the people as you know there are still hundreds of election protestors in jail. Many of them without evidence, without a trial. Why the militarization of the Iranian system? Why?

AHMADINEJAD: Don't you think that Ms. Clinton should think a little bit before she makes statements of such nature. I think Ms Clinton is a very respected woman but she should really gather more correct information to base her statements on accurate information.

AMANPOUR: I have to ask you this one last question: I just want to know if there is any chance that you will respond to the invitation of the Obama administration to engage with the United States?

AHMADINEJAD: I invited him to engage, to be engaged with us. I was the one who started the invitation.

Amanpour: well he sent a letter, he talked about it publicly....

Ahmadinejad: I was the one who started the invitation. I was the first to send a letter of invitation. And he never responded to the letter. I announced in the United Nations that we are ready to talk in the United Nations in the presence of others. I didn't receive an answer. Iran was the country that released Sarah. We haven't even received a note from the United States on that.

Iran was prepared to talk, but under fair conditions and respectful conditions. If somebody thinks that they can, like, order us around or rule us, and call it talks that wouldn't work. But if they are ready to sit down, respect the law, be fair and just, we are always prepared to talk.

AMANPOUR: Mr. President, thank you very much.