He made the comments on Sunday while addressing a rally marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

 

　　The US has recently called for direct talks with Iran, but Ahmadinejad told the rally that was not enough.

 

　　"You pull away the gun from the face of Iranian nation, and I will talk to you in person. Dialogue should be based on justice and respect, not on pressure and imposition."

 

　　The declaration appears to be part of Ahmadinejad's attempt to retain the appearance of political relevance going into his final months of office.

 

　　"We are already nuclear, so what is your confrontation with us supposed to mean? Your efforts were intended not to allow us to go nuclear. But we did. Now is not the time for conflict and confrontation. The best way forward for you and us is interaction and cooperation."

 

　　Iran denies it is trying to develop nuclear weapons but that is what the West suspects and as a result it has imposed sanctions.