Demonstrators refer to President Ahmadinejad's October 26 speech, in which the Iranian leader called for Israel to be "wiped off the map".

Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Tensions are still running high after the latest statements by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Today, as is usual on the last Friday of Ramadan, the Islamist regime has promoted an anti-Israeli rally in Tehran.

Thousands of people took to the streets repeating the words uttered by Mr Ahmadinejad at a conference entitled "The World without Zionism" in which he said Israel should be "wiped of the map" and attacked moderate Arab countries that might recognise the State of Israel and establish diplomatic relations after its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

"If some," said the President on Thursday, "who are under pressure by the dominating powers, follow a misguided policy or are naïve, or selfish or have earthly desires, recognize this regime (Israel), they should know that they would be burnt in the fire of the Islamic Ummah (Nation)".

Today, demonstrators shouted slogans and carried placards denouncing Israel and the United States.

The Iranian Embassy in Moscow today tried to soften the impact of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comment that Israel should be "wiped off the map."

"Mr. Ahmadinejad did not have any intention to speak in sharp terms and engage in a conflict," the Iranian Embassy in Moscow said in a statement.

It said instead that Ahmadinejad wanted to "underline the key position of Iran, based on the necessity to hold free elections on the occupied territories."

Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said Thursday that the Iranian president's statement gave "additional arguments" to those countries that want to bring Iran before the UN Security Council over its disputed nuclear program.

"Those who insist on transferring the Iranian nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council have received an additional argument for doing so," he noted.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was less diplomatic than his Russian counterpart.

"The comments expressed by the president are the declared and specific policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Mottaki said. "We don't recognize the Zionist regime and don't consider it legitimate."

Ahmadinejad's words were also condemned by UN Secretary-General Kofi and all western countries, many of which summoned Iran's ambassador in post in their capitals to express their disapproval.

Israel's has also started a diplomatic offensive to have Iran expelled from the United Nations. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom also warned that the "Iranians are trying to develop a nuclear bomb in order to destroy the state of Israel."

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