Tehran, 2008 Jan 18, IRIB 
 
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday said that the Zionist regime does not have the courage to launch any strike against Iran.

The President made the remark in an exclusive interview with Al-Jazeera news channel in response to a question on Zionist threats especially after test firing a missile Thursday.

He stressed that the Zionist regime would not acquire legitimacy through its threats.

Ahmadinejad said this would not save it from the doomed collapse. This illegitimate regime is doomed to rapid collapse, said Ahmadinejad.

The Iranian nation would respond them and make them regret it, and they know this, he said.

The President said that the Zionists are a handful of criminals who are enemies of mankind. Turning to the Middle East tour of President George Bush, he said they want to encourage the Zionist regime to perpetrate further crimes.

"They wish to sow rift and division among people of the region. They also want to cover up," he said.

"The American people are against all these things," he said adding, "those advocating war are losing voters."

President Ahmadinejad said the visit to the region of Bush was for domestic use.