Iran strongly criticized the European Union on Thursday for "indifference" to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

A statement released by Iranian Foreign Ministry said "in protest at exacerbation of the Zionist regime's crimes and its suppression of the Palestinian nation, Iran's embassies in western countries were instructed to convey Iran's strong protest to the European governments for their indifference towards the issue."

"Iran blamed continued support for the Zionist regime for complexity of situation in the Middle East region," the statement added.

The statement came just one day after Iran's hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for Israel's destruction and condemned the recognition of Israel as surrender and defeat of Islamic world.

"Undoubtedly, the new wave of attacks in Palestine and the growing turmoil in the Islamic world would in no time wipe Israel off the map," Ahmadinejad told a conference entitled "The World without Zionism" attended by thousands of students.

Ahmadinejad's comments have drawn immediate denouncement from

the European Union, the United States and Russia, which has consistently defended Iran's right to peaceful nuclear development.

Israel echoes the United States' accusation that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons and sponsoring terrorism and threatens Iran with preemptive attacks on its nuclear facilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Thursday that Iran should be kicked out of the United Nations after its president called for Israel's destruction.

Source: Xinhua