‘World agrees on need for change’

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says people across the world have reached a common understanding that there is need for change in the current world order.

“Iran considers the recent development as Islamic Awakening and the Westerners call it Arab spring but the important point is that there is agreement in the world on the need for reform,” Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday.

The Iranian president was referring to the popular revolutions that have been sweeping through the Arab world. The starting point of the Arab uprising was the Tunisian revolution which ended Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali’s there-decade rule in January.

He drew an analogy between the Arab revolts and Iran’s Islamic Revolution of 1979, noting that the uprising was aimed to put an end to the “oppressive and monopolist” situation in the world.

“This issue is the main reason behind the pressure and threats of oppressive powers against the Iranian nation,” he added.

Ahmadinejad warned that the arrogant powers have long been crafting a scheme to expand their rule over the world, stressing that unconditional Western support for Israel is the focal point of this plot.

“The US government seeks to introduce Americanized Islam … under the pretext of support of democracy and supporting the people and freedom. But Iran has been the only democratic country in the region in the past 32 years, whereas there are states in the region, which have not held a single election in their political life,” he explained.

Ahmadinejad said the Islamic establishment in Iran has always expressed its opposition to dictatorial regimes and has given its full support to justice- and freedom-seeking nations.