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For the fourth year in a row, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad traveled to New York to address the opening session of the U.N. General Assembly. In front of world leaders, he declared that both "the American empire" and the state of Israel would soon fall.

"The Zionist regime is on a definite slope to collapse and there is no way for it to get out of the cesspool created by itself and its supporters," Ahmadinejad said.

The Iranian leader accused a "deceitful number of people called Zionists" of "dominating an important portion of the financial and monetary centers as well as the political decision-making centers of some European countries and the United States."

During his 30-minute speech, Ahmadinejad alluded to his apocalyptic and messianic religious beliefs. "A golden and brilliant future is awaiting mankind," he said. "The community promised by the great divine Prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ and Mohammad is about to materialize..The Imam of Time, The promised One...will come accompanied by Jesus Christ.." 

Despite numerous and recent reports to the contrary (see page 64), Ahmadinejad asserted before the General Assembly that his country's nuclear program is transparent and Iran has provided "full cooperation" with inspectors from the the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog.

The United States and many of its allies have been vocal about their concern over Iran's nuclear program. Speaking on behalf of the European Union, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told the General Assembly that Europe "cannot accept a nuclear-armed Iran which would endanger the peace and stability of an entire region, nor can it tolerate Iran calling for the destruction of the state of Israel."

The French president also reiterated the European Union's support for the Jewish state. "Europe is telling Israel that it is a friend, that it will let no one threaten its existence, that we will always be at Israel's side to fight terrorism," he said.  .NER.

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