UNITED NATIONS

Iran’s nuclear activities are “transparent, peaceful and under the watchful eye” of United Nations inspectors, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday.

Taking the world stage at the U.N. General Assembly hours after President Bush, he also some permanent members of the Security Council _ an apparent reference to the United States _ of using the powerful body as a tool of “threat and coercion.”

He reiterated his nation’s commitment to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty as it faces accusations that it is seeking to develop atomic weapons.

His speech was sharply critical of the United States and Britain, and focused in large part on what he said was their abuse of the Security Council, on which they are both permanent members with veto power.

“The question needs to be asked: if the governments of the United States or the United Kingdom, who are permanent members of the Security Council, commit aggression, occupation and violation of international law, which of the U.N. organs can take them into account,” he said.

“If they have differences with a nation or state, they drag it to the Security Council and as claimants, arrogate to themselves simultaneously the roes of prosecutor, judge and executioner,” he added said. “Is this a just order?”

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