Ahmadinejad Remains Defiant

The way Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sees things, he has no reason to cooperate with the United States. Despite new requests to open up a diplomatic relationship, Ahmadinejad says he does not believe the U.S. is prepared to make concessions, as Barack Obama leads the charge to impose U.N. sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program. "They say that 'we have extended our hands to the people of Iran but the government of Iran and the people of Iran pushed it back.'. What hand did you extend toward us?" Ahmadinejad said on Saturday. "What changed? Your sanctions were lifted? The adverse propaganda was stopped? The pressure was alleviated? Did you change your attitude in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine?" Ahmadinejad also criticized Israel’s air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Friday. "One more time I warn the leaders of arrogant powers and the supporters of Zionist regime to not make a new mistake in the Middle East,” he said, “attacking Gaza will cost you too much."