U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sharply criticized Iran's supreme leader and president on Friday, describing their latest statements on Israel as "offensive and inflammatory", Reuters reported.
Many thousands of Iranians shouted "Death to America, death to Israel" yesterday when Iran marked the International Quds day, a day of global solidarity with Palestine.
The International Quds day is being marked in all of Iran's cities, and among muslims in other countries as well.
Rallies began in Tehran and other cities at 10:30 a.m. local time. The demonstrators demanded the release of Quds (Jerusalem) and urged Muslim nations to unite. Then the protesters went to mosque to attend Friday prayers.
"The majority of world's dictators depend on zionists, hopefully one day they will all be awakened," Ahmadinejad said speaking to the people. "Most governments are affiliated with zionists, their people do not have any right to choose."
The UN office said "The Secretary-General is dismayed by the remarks threatening Israel's existence attributed over the last two days to the Supreme Leader and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Secretary-General condemns these offensive and inflammatory statements."
"(Ban) believes that all leaders in the region should use their voices at this time to lower, rather than to escalate, tensions," it said in a statement.
"In accordance with the United Nations Charter, all members must refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state."
Earlier this week Iranian media reported that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel would one day be returned to the Palestinian nation and would cease to exist.
The Iranian remarks came on the heels of a series of Israeli media reports suggesting that Israel could attack Iranian nuclear facilities ahead of U.S. presidential elections in November.
Israel, the United States and their allies in Europe and elsewhere believe Iran is developing atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
Edited: S. Isayev