Iran has no intention to attack Israel

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 the Islamic republic 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 the United States and Israel 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 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 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.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council on Friday condemned Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comment that Israel should be "wiped off the map", a move immediately welcomed by the Israeli ambassador.

"The Security Council condemns the remarks about Israel attributed to Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said a statement read by the president of the council, Romanian ambassador Mihnea Motoc.

Council members expressed strong support for UN chief Kofi Annan's statement Thursday that "under the United Nations Charter, all members have undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial or political independence of any state."

Annan Thursday also expressed dismay at Ahmadinejad's remarks and reminded all member states that Israel is a long-standing United Nations member "with the same rights and obligations as every other member."

Israel's UN envoy Dan Gillerman expressed his country's appreciation at the 15-member council's swift action.

"Israel welcomes the condemnation by the Security Council of the outrageous remarks by the president of Iran, remarks which are not only alarming and dangerous but have actually unmasked what extremism, fundamentalism and madness (are) actually part of that world-threatening regime," he noted.

"We feel that Iran in its present state and with the present leadership should take this condemnation very, very seriously," Gillerman said. "We hope that this message will be heard loud and clear in Tehran."

Gillerman chided Algeria for having been "the last stumbling block" before the text was approved.

"I was disappointed by that. I feel that with the very strong international condemnation which went beyond politics and beyond any borders, Algeria should have sided with reason and with the international community rather than embrace Iran," he said.

"I am glad that at the end of the day, even if it is at the price of a certain word or compromise, Algeria did join the other 14 countries in voting for this statement," he added.

An earlier draft of the statement had suggested that the council "strongly condemns" the Iranian remarks. But the word "strongly" was deleted in the final version.

Earlier Friday, Britain's UN envoy Emyr Jones Parry, who took the initiative of securing a council condemnation, described Ahmadinejad's remarks as "appalling" and "totally out of keeping with the charter of the United Nations".

On Wednesday in Tehran, Ahmadinejad told an anti-Israel conference entitled "The World without Zionism" that "the establishment of the Zionist regime was a move by the world oppressor against the Islamic world."

"Anyone who signs a treaty which recognises the entity of Israel means he has signed the surrender of the Muslim world," he added, warning Muslim leaders who recognise Israel they "face the wrath of their own people."

"As the Imam said, Israel must be wiped off the map," he said, quoting Iran's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Gillerman said that he told Annan in a letter sent Thursday that a UN member which calls for the destruction of another member state "does not deserve to be a member" of the world body.