TEHRAN – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on all Islamic states at the weekend to “mobilise” to “remove” Israel, which he termed the main problem of the Islamic world.

Much of the international community has repeatedly condemned Iran’s position on Israel, calling Ahmadinejad’s comments dangerous and inflammatory.

“The existence of this regime will bring nothing but suffering and misery for people in the region and the increase of hatred towards the governments that support it,” Ahmadinejad said in a speech carried live on state television. He was addressing a gathering of Iraq’s neighbours called by Tehran to review regional security measures as Iran’s neighbour descends into civil war.

The anger of people in the region may soon “lead to a vast explosion that will know no boundaries”, the Iranian head of state said.

Western governments should “stop the crimes” of Israel and open the way to a Palestinian government, he said.

Ahmadinejad spoke at the opening of a two-day Iraq security summit in Tehran, aimed at reviewing security strategies that may bring peace and stability to Iraq and the region.

The conference has gathered foreign ministers of Iraq’s neighbouring countries, including Syria, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The 22-member Arab League’s secretary-general, Amr Moussaalso, was scheduled to participate in the meeting.

Iran does not recognise Israel. Bloomberg