The “president” of Iran has moved on, from casting doubt on the Holocaust to explicitly denying its existence: Iranian Leader Calls Holocaust a ‘Myth’. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)

The Associated Press says he’s “escalating his rhetoric.”

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad escalated his anti-Israeli rhetoric Wednesday, calling the Holocaust a “myth” used by Europeans to create a Jewish state in the heart of the Islamic world.

His remarks drew swift condemnation from Israel, Germany, France and the European Commission. Germany said the remarks would affect upcoming negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad last week questioned whether the Nazi destruction of 6 million European Jews during World War II occurred and said Israel should be moved to Europe. He also provoked an international outcry in October when he called for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”

But Wednesday was the first time he publicly denied the Holocaust. Touring southeast Iran, Ahmadinejad said that if Europeans insist the Holocaust happened, then they are responsible and should pay the price. …

Today, they have created a myth in the name of Holocaust and consider it to be above God, religion and the prophets,“ Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in the southeastern city of Zahedan.”

“If you committed this big crime, then why should the oppressed Palestinian nation pay the price?” Ahmadinejad asked rhetorically.

“This is our proposal: if you committed the crime, then give a part of your own land in Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska to them so that the Jews can establish their country,” he said, developing a theme he raised in Saudi Arabia last week. …

“I assure you that we won’t step back one inch from our nuclear rights,” the president told the crowd, drawing chants of ”Death to America!“

UPDATE at 12/14/05 3:38:30 pm:

The story at the link above has been edited by AP, to remove the line about “nuclear rights” and “death to America.”

The original story has been relocated to this link: Iranian Leader Calls Holocaust a ‘Myth’.