Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized the Obama administration on Monday, decrying what he called its "interference" in Mideast affairs.
Meeting with reporters in Tehran in his first news conference of the year, Ahmadinejad said the aim of U.S. and western intervention in countries like Libya and Bahrain is to favor Israel.
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Calling Western nations "bullying powers," Ahmadinejad said the U.S. should pursue diplomatic relations with Iran based on justice.
His remarks came after Iran's state-run media reported on Monday that Ahmadinejad had a telephone conversation with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to complain about Western "intervention" in the Middle East.
Iranian reports said Ahmadinejad told the U.N. chief that the meddling of some European countries and the United States complicates the political situation.
Gulf Arab states Sunday condemned what they called Iranian interference in their affairs after Tehran objected to the dispatch of Saudi troops to Bahrain.
At his news conference on Monday, Ahmadinejad again demanded that Saudi troops leave Bahrain.
Shi'ite Iran has criticized Saudi Arabia for sending troops to Bahrain, which faces protests by majority Shi'ites against the island state's Sunni ruling family.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
