TEHRAN, Oct 29: Iran on Saturday slammed the UN Security Council condemnation of its president’s anti-Israeli remarks, which caused international outrage, but insisted there was no intention to attack the Jewish state.

Amid an escalating war of words over President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s comment that Israel should be ‘wiped off the map’, Iran said that a UN Security Council statement that condemned the remarks was ‘unacceptable’.

But the foreign ministry also moved to repair some of the considerable diplomatic damage wrought by the remarks, saying Tehran was bound by its UN commitments and had no intention to attack Israel.

“The Islamic republic of Iran is committed to its engagements based on the UN charter and has never resorted to, nor threatened to resort to force against another country,” the foreign ministry said in a statement quoted by the IRNA agency.

This was the first such comment by Tehran since the straight-talking hardliner Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be ‘wiped off the map’ on Wednesday at a conference entitled ‘The World without Zionism’.

Tehran also expressed its anger at the swift condemnation by the UN Security Council overnight, alleging that the statement had been dictated by Israel.

“The declaration published by the Security Council — proposed by the Zionist regime to cover its crimes and give an image at odds with reality — is unacceptable,” the foreign ministry said in a statement quoted by the agency.

The ministry expressed surprise that the Security Council did not condemn the threats of military action made against Tehran by Washington and Tel Aviv or the ‘crimes’ of the Israeli regime.

An earlier draft of the statement, initiated by Britain, had suggested that the council ‘strongly condemns’ the Iranian remarks but the word ‘strongly’ was deleted in the final version to ensure across-the-board support.

Britain’s UN envoy Emyr Jones Parry described Mr Ahmadinejad’s remarks as ‘appalling’ and ‘totally out of keeping with the charter of the United Nations’.

Iran has found itself on the receiving end of almost unanimous international outrage since Mr Ahmadinejad’s comments — not just from its customary foes like the United States and Israel.

Britain, France and Germany — who earlier this year engaged in intense talks with Iran over a deal for its nuclear programme — have minced no words over their fury.

But even close allies like Venezuela have distanced themselves from the comments while Russia — a key backer of Iran’s controversial nuclear programme — has expressed its displeasure.

The Palestinian fight against Israel is one of the central dogmas of the Iranian government, but Mr Ahmadinejad’s fiery speech was the first time in years that such a high-ranking official had openly demanded Israel’s destruction.

It was also a major departure from the reformist presidency of Mohammad Khatami, who had toned down anti-Western rhetoric and sought to bring Iran out of international isolation.

However, Iran has been attempting to limit some of the diplomatic backlash by stating that its position is not to seek the destruction of Israel, but rather to end ‘the occupation of Palestinian territory’.

The dispute reinforced international suspicions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions just a month before a key meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog that could see Tehran sent to the UN Security Council over its atomic programme.

Israel accuses Iran of seeking nuclear weapons and long-range missiles that could strike at its heart, but Tehran insists that the programme is for civilian energy purposes only.

Mr Ahmadinejad on Friday said his call for Israel to be ‘wiped off the map’ was ‘right and just’ as tens of thousands of Iranians rallied in the streets to protest against the Jewish state. —AFP