Iran's president on Wednesday called on Barack Obama to accept a nuclear fuel swap deal, warning the American leader will miss a historic opportunity for improved cooperation from Tehran if the offer is rejected. "There are people in the world who want to pit Mr. Obama against the Iranian nation and bring him to the point of no return, where the path to his friendship with Iran will be blocked forever," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, according to the AP.
Ahamdinejad also issued a stern warning to Moscow, saying its support for the U.S.-led push for new U.N. sanctions against Iran was contrary to the two nations' friendly relations.
"If they (U.S. and its allies) are truthful when they say they seek cooperation ... they should accept this offer," Ahmadinejad said. "But if they seek excuses, they should know that the path to any interaction will be closed."
"Mr. Obama must know that this proposal is a historic opportunity ... (Obama should) know that if this opportunity is lost, I doubt the Iranian nation will give a new chance to this gentleman in the future," he added.
Ahmadinejad on Wednesday also singled out Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, saying Russia's leader had caved in to U.S. pressure for new sanctions on Tehran. "Justifying the behavior of Mr. Medvedev today has become very difficult," he said. "The Iranian nation doesn't know whether (Russians) ultimately are friends, whether they stand by us or are after other things. This is not acceptable."
"I hope Russian leaders and officials pay attention to these sincere words and correct themselves, and not let the Iranian nation consider them among its enemies," he said.
