UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that Iran was ready to consider a suspension of uranium enrichment if it received ‘certain guarantees’ in talks with the big powers.

He told a news conference at the UN headquarters in New York that talks with the European Union were on the right track and he hoped nobody would try to torpedo them, an allusion to the United States.

He did not reply to a question that at what stage in the negotiations with the European Union would Iran suspend its enrichment programme, but said Tehran was seeking a mechanism which would guarantee that the agreement was implemented.

President Ahmadinejad declared that Iran did not need a nuclear bomb and was not trying to make one.

In reply to a question about Iran’s nuclear programme, Mr Ahmadinejad said: “The bottom line is, we do not need a bomb, not like what others think.”

Later he added: “We are not seeking a nuclear bomb, let me make that clear.”

Mr Ahmadinejad accused the West of reneging on its commitment to provide help to Iran in science and technology.

The Iranian president, who has become the most sought after world leader during his visit to the UN General Assembly, minced no words and accused the Jewish lobby in the United States of exacerbating the issue against Tehran.

He asserted that the whole debate on Iran’s nuclear enrichment plans was political, rhetorically asking why the United States supports some countries which are acquiring nuclear weapons.

Asserting that the Iranian nuclear programme is very transparent, he said anyone could visit the nuclear facilities.

Asked whether he was still seeking the destruction of Israel, Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran was against anyone who commits murders and causes destruction.

The president said people belonging to all religions had lived in peace in the Middle East till the British imperialists arrived and created divisions.

In reply to a question whether Iran would stop arming Hezbollah, he Tehran was not interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs.