Ahmadinejad vows "severe" response if U.S. attacks

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday threatened "severe" retaliation if the United States attacked his country, which is locked in a standoff with the West over its nuclear program.

"They realize that if they make such a mistake the retaliation of Iran would be severe and they will repent," Ahmadinejad told a news conference in the United Arab Emirates.

"All people know they cannot strike us. Iran is capable of defending itself. It is a strong country," said Ahmadinejad. He said the West could not stop Tehran pursuing its nuclear energy program. "Superpowers cannot prevent us from owning this energy."

The United States claims that Iran may use its civilian nuclear program as a front to produce nuclear weapons.

The main bone of contention between Tehran and the West is Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.

Iran is a signatory to the nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its nuclear activities are under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iran wants only to generate electricity to allow more oil exports.

Using stronger language than on Sunday when he called for U.S. troops to leave the region, Ahmadinejad said regional countries should "get rid of" foreign forces. He blamed foreign troops for insecurity in the region. "We in the Persian Gulf are faced by difficulties and enemies," he said. "They claim lack of security is the reason for their presence (but) the problem is the intervention of foreign powers."

Tension between the United States and Iran has raised regional fears of a possible military confrontation that could hit Persian Gulf economies and threaten vital oil exports.

Cheney visit

Ahmadinejad said Iran had agreed to talk to the United States about Iraq to help the Iraqi people. The White House said on Sunday that U.S. and Iranian officials would meet in the next few weeks in Baghdad about security in Iraq.

"They know that their plans have failed in Iraq, their vision is wrong. As long as you are plotting against the Iraqi people, failure will be there day after day," said Ahmadinejad.

Ahmadinejad was speaking during a trip to the UAE, an ally of Washington, just days after a visit by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney.

Cheney met officials from the UAE and its larger neighbor Saudi Arabia to discuss issues including Iran.

Dubai-based analyst Mustafa Alani said Tehran was trying to forge regional cooperation around joint interests and to push for an end to foreign troops in the region.

The UAE on Sunday voiced support for a moderate approach to Iran's crisis with the West.