Moscow, Sep 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said the country would defend itself if Israel were to attack it.

"Any nation has the right and will indeed defend herself," Ahmadinejad said speaking through a translator in an interview aired Monday on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight."

"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?," he said.

"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' ... can this be ... a successful formula for the management of the world?," said Ahmadinejad.

The Iranian president was apparently referring to the country's nuclear programme that the West led by the US fears is aimed at building nuclear weapons, which Iran fiercely denies.

On Syria, Ahmadinejad said the Syrian crisis should be resolved by peaceful means and without outside interference.

A long-time supporter of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Ahmadinejad condemned violence in Syria in an interview with CNN.

"We must all say enough of this violence, right now," the Islamic Republic's leader said, adding that he is working to organise a group bringing the two sides together.

"We do believe that freedom, the right to choose, the right to vote, respect and justice is the fundamental right of all people. All people must obtain these rights," Ahmadinejad said.

"No one has the right to restrict a people and nation, but we believe as a friend of nations, we must help the nations around the world to obtain these rights through peaceful paths, though peaceful actions," he said.

The UN estimates over 18,000 people have been killed in clashes between government and opposition forces.