Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that the world was entering a "new phase" in which the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) could turn into an alternative to the United Nations Security Council.

Speaking at the 15th NAM foreign ministers' meeting in Tehran, Ahmadinejad once again criticized the UN Security Council for serving the interests of world powers rather than all of its member states.

He cited the council's shortcomings with regards to "crimes committed by the Zionist regime (Israel)" in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon and charged that the world body has so far acted in favour of Israel.

Ahmadinejad also referred to the United States military invasions in Iraq and Vietnam and said that the UN would never condemn the US or issue a resolution against it.

"The Vietnam war was not ended by the UN but through heroic resistance by the Vietnamese themselves," said the Iranian president, indicating that the Middle East crisis should also eventually be settled through resistance.

"The US even wants a security pact for Iraq which would definitely undermine the rights of the Iraqi nation," he added, reiterating Iran's opposition to any US-initiated plan to settle the Iraqi crisis.

Despite his anti-US rhetoric at home, Ahmadinejad has several times voiced Iran's readiness to resume contact with its political arch-foe, the US, after more than 28 years of diplomatic estrangement, most recently in an interview with NBC television.

The president, whose country is involved in a nuclear dispute with the West, said that the UN has also failed to implement its own efforts at nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament.

"We are, however, entering a new phase where the rights of the people could be reserved through love and brotherhood," he said.

"NAM could now, more than ever, play a significant role in this new phase and settle global differences, block discrimination, create justice and eventually become flag-holder of world peace," Ahmadinejad added.

Following his presidency in August 2005, Ahmadinejad has adopted an uncompromising policy not only in the dispute over Iran's nuclear projects but also in the Middle East.

His anti-Israeli tirades especially have caused worldwide protests and gradually isolated Iran from the international scene.

Ahmadinejad has since then focused his hope on NAM and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which unlike the UN, are said to approve Iran's civil nuclear programmes and also show a more favourable approach toward Iran's Middle East policies.

"Iran is your home," he told the more than 100 officials of the NAM member states at the end of his speech while declaring Iran's readiness for the expansion of NAM's role in world affairs. (dpa)