Ahmadinejad calls on Obama to stop supporting Israel

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday called on U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to stop supporting Israel, which Tehran condemns for launching attacks on Gaza.

Ahmadinejad said the fighting in Gaza between Hamas and Israel has shown that "it is not feasible" for what he calls Israel's "Zionist regime to continue to live in the region."

He added that the recent fighting in Gaza has been a great lesson for all, as it shows "the absolute defeat and desperation of this [Israeli] regime."

The Iranian leader did not use the word Israel in his comments, made at a Thursday press conference.

Ahmadinejad also said that imposing an oil embargo by Arab countries on Israel's supporters over its assault on Gaza was a "good proposal" but not on the agenda yet.

"I think it is a good proposal if Arab countries cooperate. It can't be that nations give oil and it is turned into a bullet, a missile or a bomb on the heads of the people of Gaza. This is not a fair equation," Ahmadinejad said.

He also called on Obama to take a different approach in the dispute over the Islamic state's nuclear program.

Obama has said he is prepared to offer economic incentives to stop Iran's nuclear work but that tougher sanctions could be imposed if it refused.

When asked about Obama, who has said he sees Iran as a "genuine threat" but favors dialogue with its leaders, Ahmadinejad said: "It doesn't make a difference to us who comes to power. What is important is what behavior he would follow... If there is truly fundamental change, we welcome it."

The United States accuses Iran of seeking nuclear weapons and President George W. Bush has spearheaded a drive to isolate Tehran internationally. Tehran denies the charge.