Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said "Zionists have created a fake 2,500-year-old culture for themselves in order to dry up the historical roots of other nations at a ceremony in southeastern Iran on Sunday, according to a report by Fars, a semi-official Iran-based news agency.

According to the report, Ahmadinejad spoke at the unveiling of the Jiroft Civilization Treasure exhibition, commemorating the return of 5,000 artifacts back to the southwestern Jiroft region of Iran after they were smuggled to Britain nearly seven years ago.

Open gallery view Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran, October 13, 2011. Credit: Reuters

Ahmadinejad spoke of the West and enemies of the Iranian nation, who lack proper historical background and are against any move to introduce the history and civilization of the great Iranian nation, the report said.

According to the report, the 5,000-year-old historical relics, which include two jars, five cups, six vases, one bowl, one dish and three weights, were delivered to Iran's Foreign Ministry officials in Tehran last week.