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it was always going to be intriguing meeting one of the world’s most vain and controversial public figures…

But President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad doesn’t look at all fazed as he comes face to face with Piers Morgan.

The Iranian leader was in the US for a rare interview with the CNN host during which he ranted about the anti-Islamic film that sparked Muslim riots, homosexuality, and Israeli threats to attack his country.

Ahmadinejad is well known for his dislike of the West and for spouting his opinions – and he didn’t disappoint here.

Asked about his views on gays, he declared: “Do you believe that anyone is giving birth through homosexuality? ­Homosexuality ceases procreation.

“Who has said that if you like or believe in doing something ugly, and others do not accept your behaviour, that they’re denying your freedom?”

And when Morgan asked the Muslim ­president how he would feel if any of his children dated a Jew, he replied: “I would have to see who that Jewish man or woman would be.

"We believe that colour, religion, ethnic background shouldn’t create differences or distances between people, nor should it be the sole reason to bring people closer together.”

Ahmadinejad spoke to Morgan in New York, ahead of the president’s visit to the UN General Assembly this week.

He laid into the US-made anti-Islamic film that mocked the Prophet Mohammed as a womaniser, child molester and killer.

But he also attacked the violent backlash from thugs across the Muslim world that left more than two dozen people dead, including US ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Benghazi.

(Image: Mirror Screen Grab)

Ahmadinejad said: “Fundamentally, first of all, any action that is provocative, offends the religious thoughts and feelings of any people, we condemn

“Likewise, we condemn any type of extremism. Of course, what took place was ugly. Offending the Holy Prophet is quite ugly.

"This has very little or nothing to do with freedom and freedom of speech. This is the weakness of and the abuse of freedom and in many places it is a crime.

“It shouldn’t take place and I hope the day will come in which politicians will not seek to offend those whom others hold holy.

“We also believe that this must be resolved in a humane atmosphere, in a participatory environment and we do not like anyone losing their lives or being killed for any reason, anywhere in the world.”

The president also turned on Israel over threats to attack Iran, which is believed by many in the West to be building nuclear weapons.

He said: “Any nation has the right and will defend herself.

"But why should the world be managed in such a way that an individual can allow himself to threaten a rich and deeply rooted historical, ancient country, such as Iran.

“A great country, such as Iran, based on an excuse of his own fabrication.

"Another country can say, ‘I am guessing that country B is doing activity X, therefore I will attack that country’. Is this a successful formula for the management of the world?”

But he later told reporters: “While we are fully ready to defend ourselves, we do not take such threats seriously.”

During the interview, to be aired tonight in America, Morgan also asked Ahmadinejad if he was pleased al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed by US Navy Seals.

He replied: “I would have been happier to see a ­transparent trial, a formal trial and find out the root causes of all of the events of the last few years.”

Ahmadinejad has used his UN speeches to defend Iran’s nuclear program and to attack Israel, America and Europe.

He has questioned the ­existence of the Holocaust and cast doubt on whether 19 hijackers were really responsible for the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001.