IRAN’S new ultra-conservative President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, defended yesterday his country’s right to pursue its nuclear programme regardless of European and American pressure.

He said that he would continue discussions with Europe but insisted that his country had no need for ties with the United States.

In the first press conference since his shock election victory on Friday, his replies about the nuclear issue were the only time that his monotone voice became emotive and defiant.

“It is Iran’s right and it is what every single Iranian wants. With preserving national interests and by emphasising the right of the Iranian nation for using peaceful nuclear technology, we will continue the talks (with Europe),” he said. The EU has reacted nervously to Mr Ahmadinejad’s victory. He is surrounded by ideological hardliners who are loath to make concessions to the West over Iran’s nuclear programme.

Analysts have predicted that his win will mark a downturn in Iran’s relations with the West. His supporters are from Iran’s main conservative parties who have often stridently criticised Western countries and accused them of exploitation and imperialism.

However, he may not have much power in setting foreign policy. That right is bestowed on the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and the Supreme National Security Council, of which the President is a member, but not the deciding influence. Mr Ahmadinejad will also find it hard to criticise the nuclear policy, as it has been set by the Leader and any criticism would appear as directly challenging his opinions.

What is clear is that it will be much harder to reach agreements with Britain, Germany and France, who have continued the negotiations.

It appears that it will be harder still to reach any rapprochement with America. “Our nation is continuing the path of progress and on this path has no significant need for (relations with) the United States,” he said.

Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, said yesterday that Mr Ahmadinejad was no friend of democracy. “He is very much supportive of the current ayatollahs, who are telling the people of (Iran) how to live their lives, and my guess is over time the young people and women will find him as well as his masters unacceptable.”

Mr Ahmadinejad began his press conference by reciting a passage from the Koran in Arabic. Dwarfed by his aides — if he is Iran’s first non-cleric President in 24 years he is also its shortest — he smiled broadly for photographers and even gave a regal wave to journalists in the gallery.

He deftly deflected thorny questions — when asked about Iran’s human rights record he questioned Europe’s. His rhetoric was peppered with revolutionary talk of brotherhood and love for the nation and he continued his campaign themes of eradication of poverty and corruption. But speaking in general terms, he gave no hard guarantees on issues that are concerning some Iranians, such as social freedoms and women’s rights.

Mr Ahmadinejad has a reputation as a religious hardliner who has opposed measures to relax some restrictions on life in Tehran. His win marks a resurgence of the conservatives and highlights the stark class divides in Iran. His campaign agenda targeted the working classes, with his promises to solve the housing crisis, poverty and unemployment — which is unofficially 30 per cent — and transformed him into an Islamic Robin Hood.

But his critics say that Mr Ahmadinejad’s mix of strict Islamic values and politics will drag Iran back into the dark days after the revolution when women were flogged for wearing too much make-up.

However, the biggest fear, his critics say, is that his victory gives the conservatives control of Iran’s two highest elected offices — the presidency and parliament — taking conservatives a step nearer to absolute power. Such a concentration of strength at the top could ultimately bring Iran closer to dictatorship.

The verdicts

• “With the conclusion of the elections in Iran, we have seen nothing that dissuades us from our view that Iran is out of step with the rest of the region”
  US State Department

• “We must stand by our demand that Iran respect fundamental human rights, as we did with outgoing President (Mohammad) Khatami”
  Franco Frattini, EU Justice Commissioner

• “The result proved once again that Iran is adding more radicalism and extremism rather than serious reforms and reconciliation”
  Silvan Shalom, Israeli Foreign Minister

• “Economic co-operation also rests on how successfully Iran can secure international trust and further open itself” Joschka Fischer, German Foreign Minister

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