Mahmoud Ahmadinejad openly mocks and sneers at the European Union’s “incentive” plan, on the Iranian News Channel, May 17, 2006. (Courtesy MEMRI TV.)

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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: The enemies of the Iranian people should know: Confronting this people will bring them nothing but defeat, humiliation, and misery.

[…]

As I stand before you, I’d like to say a few words to some European countries, which consider themselves to be the standard bearers of the Iranian people’s progress.

We say to you: Do not sacrifice the interests of your people, and the interest of all European people - especially the southern European countries - for the sake of immature decisions. We recommend that you do not sacrifice the interests of Europe for the sake of the interests of others.

Your best course of action is to follow the letter of the law. You say that you want to grant incentives to the Iranians.

They think they are dealing with a four-year-old child, who can be given nuts and chocolates in exchange for the gold in his hands.

Why? We say to you…

Crowd: Death to America. Death to America. Death to America. Death to America. Death to America.

Upon hearing this, European Union foreign policy head Javier Solana sprang into action, and asked the US to consider selling commercial planes to Iran. (Hat tip: Ethel.)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Europeans have asked the United States to consider selling new commercial planes to Iran as part of a proposed package of inducements and penalties aimed at resolving the nuclear crisis with Tehran, diplomats said on Friday.

The Europeans have also proposed a regional security dialogue that some hope could eventually draw Washington and Tehran, adversaries for more than 25 years, into direct talks.

The package was formally presented to the United States, Russia and China shortly after it was agreed on Thursday by Britain, France, Germany and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, one diplomat told Reuters.