Smash hit

He also said that: “It’s wrong to think that Iran and the US are walking toward war. Who says so? Why should we go to war? There is no war in the offing.”

Mr Ahmadinejad has appealed to the American people before, distinguishing between the population and its government.

Recently, he told a television show that Iran wants peace and friendship with America. Since coming to power in 2005, Mr Ahmadinejad also has sent letters to the American people criticising President Bush’s policies in the Middle East.

Washington says that it is addressing the Iran situation diplomatically, rather than militarily, but US officials also say that all options are open.

The commander of the US military forces in the Middle East said he did not believe tensions will lead to war.

“No. I certainly hope not... This constant drum beat of conflict strikes me as not helpful and not useful,” Admiral William Fallon, head of US Central Command, said in an interview with Al-Jazeera television.

Politicians condemned Mr Ahmadinejad’s request to lay a wreath at the former World Trade Center site, saying that such a visit would violate sacred ground. President Bush backed the decision to block the visit, saying: "I can understand why they would not want somebody running a country who is the state sponsor of terror down at the site."

Mr Ahmadinejad told 60 Minutes he would not press the issue but expressed disbelief that the visit would offend Americans.

After the September 11 attacks, hundreds of young Iranians held candlelight vigils in Tehran, he said. “Usually you go to these sites to pay your respects and also to perhaps air your views about the root causes of such incidents,” Mr Ahmadinejad told the network.

Mr Ahmadinejad’s visit to New York has also caused debate in Iran, where some have condemned it as a publicity stunt that would hurt Iran’s image in the world.

Political analyst Iraj Jamshidi said that Mr Ahmadinejad looked at the UN General Assembly as a publicity forum to indulge his harsh rhetoric.

“The world has not welcomed Mr Ahmadinejad’s hardline approach. His previous address to the assembly didn’t resolve any of Iran’s foreign policy issues and no one expects anything better this time,” he said.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a conservative politician, said that the trip gave Iran a chance to be heard.

“This trip gives the president a good chance to meet world leaders and inform them of Iran’s rightful position,” IRNA quoted Mr Boroujerdi as saying.

Times Recommends

• Times Charity Appeal: SolarAid
• Is it Black Monday all over again for Dubai?
• Behind the scenes at the biggest deal