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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Source: Reuters
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has mocked US President Barack Obama's "extended hand" offer made earlier this year and says his country's cooperation on its nuclear programme has been spurned.
The US president has been a disappointment to the world, Ahmadinejad said in an interview with Britain's Channel 4 News, a full transcript of which was later posted on its website.
He once again dismissed a year-end deadline on a UN-drafted fuel deal, saying it was "meaningless".
The deal requires Iran to ship most of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad in exchange for fuel for a Tehran research reactor.
The US has made it clear it intends to pursue harsher sanctions against Iran in the UN if Iran fails to meet the deadline.
Ahmadinejad says Iran has made the proposal, and according to the regulations the offer of fuel is unconditional.
"But they are insisting that to have conditions for giving us the fuel - political conditions I mean - while the exchange of fuel is a technical job. I have not yet heard anybody who has given a deadline for this because it is meaningless."
Iran says its uranium enrichment programme is solely aimed at generating electricity so it can export more gas and oil.
The West believes Iran wants to make atomic bombs.
"I think it has become an old issue to talk about the nuclear programme," Ahmadinejad says.
"The story of these claim(s) of US and its allies have turned into a TV series."
He says Iran will not accept a policy of "intimidation and aggression" from the US, and warns if the major powers do not accept the offer, Iran will produce 20% grade uranium.
The president says Iran has told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the uranium enriching facility at Qom a year before the activities started "but unfortunately they have misinterpreted our cooperation".
"When you cooperate the reactions are negative," he says.
"What does that mean? Does it mean we should not cooperate at all? We are keen to have friendly relations with all. But the basis of judgement and cooperation is on a legal basis."
Ahmadinejad has rejected Obama's speech in which he said "if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fists, they will find an extended hand from us".
"Which hand did he extend? His right hand or left hand?" Ahmadinejad asks.
"Who has extended his hand in practice? He extended the sanctions against us. What step has he taken?
"We are concerned about his avenues - he has failed to meet the expectations of the people in the U.S. and the people of the world."
