Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that his country will never recognize Israel and is ready to hold talks with those urging an end to Israeli crimes, occupation, aggression, ideology and Zionism. "Whoever is to talk with the Iranian nation should know that Iranians would never recognize the Zionist regime," the president said addressing a large crowd in the city of Ahvaz, capital of Khuzestan province.

Addressing "those who are to hold talk with Iran," the Iranian leader stressed, "Iranian nation is neither in favor of suppression, nor in favor of hegemony and it would never give up its absolute rights." Commenting on the recent remarks by the French president, Ahmadinejad said, "This respectful man who tries to mimic superpowers, speaks like Pharaoh when he stands behind the podium.

"He is for a while keeping to say that he would not shake hand or hold talks with those who say the Zionist …