Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that "the future belongs to Iran," and challenged the United States to accept that his country has a major role in the world.

The comments came in an hourlong interview with The Associated Press on the first day of his visit to the United States to attend the annual general assembly of the United Nations this week.

He insisted that his government does not want an atomic bomb -- something he has said in the past -- and that Iran is only seeking peace and a nuclear-free world. He gave no indication of when Iran would resume talks on its nuclear program and said any anti-nuclear sanctions against his government would have no effect on his government's policies.

Appearing calm and self-assured, the Iranian president said he was pleased about the release of American hiker Sarah Shourd from a prison in Tehran, but said her two companions still in prison would have to prove their innocence on charges that they illegally crossed into the country.

"The United States' administrations ... must recognize that Iran is a big power," he said. "Having said that, we consider ourselves to be a human force and a cultural power and hence a friend of other nations. We have never sought to dominate others or to violate the rights of any other country.

"Those who insist on having hostilities with us, kill and destroy the option of friendship of us in the future, which is unfortunate because it is clear the future belongs to Iran and that emnities will be fruitless -- and hence sanctions, too, will be ineffective."

He added: "If they were to be effective, I should not be sitting here right now."

Ahmadinejad asserted that international nuclear regulators had never found proof that Iran is pursuing an atomic bomb.

"We are not afraid of nuclear weapons. The point is that if we had in fact wanted to build a nuclear bomb, we are brave enough to say that we want it. But we never do that. We are saying that the arsenal of nuclear bombs (worldwide) have to be destroyed as well," he said.

The U.S. accuses Iran of hiding plans to build a nuclear bomb; Iran denies that and says it's working only toward building nuclear power plants.

On the case of the American hikers, Ahmadinejad said, `We're very glad that that lady was released. (Due) to the humanitarian perspective of the Islamic Republic chose to adopt on the subject, she was released on bail. And we hope that the other two will soon be able to prove and provide evidence to the court that they had no ill intention in crossing the border, so that their release can also be secured."

Tying the case to Iran's assertion that some of its citizens are being held unjustly in the United States, he said, "It certainly does not give us joy when we see people in prison, wherever in the world that may be, and even when we think of prisoners here."

His answers were translated from Farsi by an Iranian translator, but Ahmadinejad appeared to be following the questions in English and occasionally corrected his interpreter.

Asked about retired FBI employee Robert Levinson, who disappeared during a trip to Iran in 2007, Ahmadinejad appeared to suggest that he may have been Iran for suspicious reasons.

"The U.S. government had informed us of this situation and we announced that we are unaware of it. We agreed to establish a joint information committee to trace ... his whereabouts.

"Of course if it becomes clear what his goal was, or if he was indeed on a mission, then perhaps specific assistance can be given," the Iranian said. "For example, if he had plans to visit with a group or an individual or go to another country, he would be easier to trace in that instance."

Levinson was last seen on Iran's Kish island in March 2007 where he had gone to seek information on cigarette smuggling for a client of his security firm. He had been an FBI agent in New York and Florida before retiring in 1998. He has not been seen since. Iran says it has no information on him.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/09/19/ahmadinejad-future-belongs-iran/#endframe

He hate's seeing people behind bars so much that he likes to have big rocks dropped on peoples heads to keep them empty I guess.

I call BS on the FBI Agent. It was to valuable of a target, someone with Yankee White security clearance, they wouldn't let that one go.

Relax lpdon and lay off from faux news..every single news you post comes from fox news.

There will be no war with Iran, the USA is dead broke and stalled in 2 places at once, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan alone is bankrupting the USA and the biggest concerns are domestic issues, regarding jobs and economy.

Why dont' wee see post about Uganda or Sweden? Hey North Korea is a a bigger threat, since it has nuclear weapons already and threatened not once by many times and yet Faux is fixated on the Middle East relentlessly while riling up the people in USA to hate Muslims at all cost. Even the blind can see they are all nothing but propaganda.

Ummm, I use CNN(when Fox is down).

We won't be going into Iran as long as we have a pansy in the White House.

Tell me how another (3rd) war will benefit your life.

We can get back INNOCENT American's in Iranian custody.........

and that calls for a war? Bomb them kill them ?

I didn't say bomb them, send in Special Forces(like was mean't to happen in the 80's) and free American's detained in Iranian prisons.

Minimum loss of life. Israel will handle bombing the $hit out of them.

By this reasoning, Mexico and several 3rd world countries could declare war against the US and bomb it into oblivion for interfering with their trad and imprisoning their citizens. (btw, the "prisoners" you speak of were released http://www.care2.com/causes/human-rights/blog/update-freed-american-hiker-arrives-in-us/ (or) http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2010-09-16/story/imprisoned-iran-freedom-last, so you lose on that argument)

There are also very clear and concise State Dept warnings to American Citizens who travel abroad, and someone who had once been employed by the US Govt would certainly be aware of these.

As much as I agree that we do definitely need to do more to retrieve Americans who are detained abroad, it is also important to realize that anyone with a kindergarten education in this day and age knows it's risky business to travel to the Middle East now. And all Americans abroad are cautioned not violate local law.

Nonetheless those Americans who are detained unreasonably should be brought home as their dention is often a hostage-type or a direct hostage situation and we cannot submit to terrorists.

unfortunately that kind of thinking is necessary when dealing wiht the criminal mind, which terrorists r. They r criminals even if they deem themselves legal citizens in their own countries.

Really? I missed the part wher her TWO fried's were on the plane back to the US with her, or the missing FBI Agent who had our nations top security clearance who wen't missing in Iran.........

Unless he was used by the US Government as bait, or was still with the FBI, but don't want to jeopordize his safety..........

regardless of the reason, if he is a loyal American citizen he needs to be rescued

I'd also venture to say that we certainly cannot trust the system of jurisprudence over there even had he committed some sort of illegal act according to Iranian "law" whateer that is. They do not HAVE a system of jurisprudence...so I don't see any pretext upon which it's OK to let Iran detain an American

Faux news is trying to make you afraid.

Are you afraid?

If not, good for you, cause it isn't anything we need to worry about.

That's fine, if they had legal reason to hold the American's and try them, send them to the Hague and handle it that way. They just know they don't have a case 'cuz snatch and grabs(which Iran is famous for) across boarders is illegal unless it's a declaration or war or there is a warrant issued by the ICC.

No, the murderous and torterous regime in Iran who think they are major players in the world make me afraid.

Even though I almost fell off my chair when I read Mr. Iranian President claiming that they are.........

There is plenty to worry about. How about a genocidal Holocaust
denying nutball with a history of supporting terrorists who murder innocent women and children acquiring unlimited nuclear enrichment capability, a nuclear arsenal, intercontinental ballistic missiles and his finger on the trigger?

It's enough to worry Obama, the Saudis, the Iraqis, the Chinese,
and the Russians...So what do you say? "What me, Worry?"

The Saudi's must be Islamaphobes too..........

i guess you guys forget about how many times iran has threatened to "wipe Israel from the face of the earth". i think it's about 20 - 30 times they have casually mentioned that...

My dislike of Muslims does'nt come from Fox. It comes from nearly all news sources, history, current events, and personal interaction with different Muslim/Arab people.

Also, its not fear that I harbor towards them, its anger!! Bring them on!! True Americans will handle their threats face to face, and they wont back down just because some left wing whackos start whining and screaming foul.

Amedinijhad only THINKS he's more important than he really is. Thankfully, Israel has enough courage and capability to handle Iran if the need arises.

Yea, and that was this last week alone...........