In a CNN interview with Piers Morgan on Monday night, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad clarified what he meant when he said that Israel should be wiped off the map.

Mr Ahmadinejad said: “So when we say ‘to be wiped’, we say for occupation to be wiped off from this world. For war-seeking to (be) wiped off and eradicated, the killing of women and children to be eradicated. And we propose the way. We propose the path. The path is to recognise the right of the Palestinians to self-governance.”

Asked whether he believed in a two-state solution, President Ahmadinejad said: “I cannot express an opinion. That is their prerogative.

“But the people of Palestine must be allowed by everyone, and helped by everyone, to allow them, to give them the right to choose for themselves.”

The discussion on Piers Morgan Tonight also touched on his denial of the Holocaust, President Ahmadinejad said: “researchers and scholars must be free to conduct research and analysis about any historical event” as well as his view that homosexuality “ceases procreation”.

The president, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly meeting, has not been universally well received. Anti-Iran demonstrations have been held outside his hotel, and the New York Post has sent him a basket of Jewish goods saying that it hoped to "take the edge off his bloodthirsty desire to develop nuclear weapons and wipe Israel off the map", the Jerusalem Post reported.

The hamper reportedly contained borscht, gefilte fish, bagels, onion bialys and Zabar’s cream cheese. Unfortunately it did not reach its final destination as the US Secret Service prevented its delivery.

For the CNN video, click here