(Image source: New York Daily News) 

You’re watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy

BY MARC STEIDLER

ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS

One year after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s remarks caused a walkout at the United Nations General Assembly, the controversial Iranian president is at it again. Speaking at UN Headquarters -- Mr. Ahmadinejad said this:

“Who used the mysterious September 11 incident as a pretext to attack Afghanistan and Iraq -- killing, injuring, and displacing millions in two countries with the ultimate goal of bringing into its domination the Middle East and its oil resources?”

Washington DC’s WJLA reports Mr. Ahmadinejad got a predictable reaction.
 

“As is almost customary at this point, the US delegation walked out while Ahmadinejad spoke, as well as diplomats from 30 other countries.”

The Iranian president didn’t name names -- instead he used rhetorical questions that suggested the U.S. and the West caused the global economic crisis. CNN tells us why Mr. Ahmadinejad went on the offensive.

“Ahmadinejad needs to build capital at home and in the broader Middle East, and observers say speeches like this help him do that, even if many find them outrageous.”

Case in point: Iran’s state-owned Press TV says Mr. Ahmadinejad was just standing up for the little guy:

“Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has lambasted the world's bullying powers for taking the liberty of infringing on the rights of other nations.”

The speech’s content is notable-- just a day before his speech Iran released two U.S. hikers it has detained for two years. But RT suggests -- Iran has no intention of warming relations further. In fact, it seems Mr. Ahmadinejad is content to play the role of agitator.

“Considering how hard the international community -- especially in the last couple of days -- have been trying to say over and over again that they’re willing to reach out a hand of dialogue, to leave the door of dialogue open with Iran, it’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who tries to provoke the community more and more and see how far he can take it.”

After walking out, the US delegates responded with this curt statement:

“Mr. Ahmadinejad had a chance to address his own people’s aspirations for freedom and dignity, but instead he again turned to abhorrent anti-Semitic slurs and despicable conspiracy theories.”

Ahmadinejad also failed to mention his country’s controversial nuclear program.

Transcript by Newsy.