Noam Chomsky lashed out at western media reports saying Tehran was "defying the world" over its nuclear program.

"That's a funny definition of the 'world'. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), for example which is the majority of countries, endorses Iran's right to enrich uranium," said Chomsky.

"Now nobody thinks they have the right to develop nuclear weapons, however that's different issue. But the majority of the (American) population agrees (on Iran's right to enrich uranium)," he added.

Iran has repeatedly stressed that having nuclear arms would be against its Islamic teachings and laws.

The distinguished 80-year-old professor emeritus of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) said, "Public opinion here overwhelmingly holds that Iran should have the right to develop nuclear energy..."

Chomsky reaffirmed also that Iran was "of course entitled to uranium enrichment as a member of the NPT."
The US scholar made clear that most Americans reject the Iran policy of President George W. Bush.

"With regard to Iran, a substantial segment of pretty mainstream opinion has been harshly critical of the confrontational approach and has called for negotiations and diplomacy," Chomsky said.

He added there could have been a US-Iranian "rapprochement for the last 10 years."

"It did not happen because of the extremism of the Bush administration was simply directed at making relations harsher, more bitter, militarizing them and that's why the Bush administration even antagonized allies," Chomsky said.

Asked whether the US-Iranian estrangement could finally end, he pointed to the possibility of a "working relationship" between both adversaries.

Chomsky emphasized that a working relationship between the US and Iran could "improve the overall situation" in the Middle East.

"There is a strong establishment pressure ... moving towards a diplomatic and developmental approach rather than a military approach.

The American popular opinion is strongly in support of it," Chomsky added.

He emphasized Washington's hostile stance towards Tehran stems from Iran's refusal "to subordinate itself to the US will." "Iran is an independent actor. It is defiant of the US and that's not tolerated," Chomsky said.

"In fact that's official policy going back to War II in which the US would try to create a world order in which it is dominant. No exercise of sovereignty should be tolerated, if it intervenes with US efforts to construct a certain kind of world order," he added.

The American professor said the US viewed Iran as an "impediment" to its energy interests in the Middle East.

"Nobody is seriously concerned about Iranian aggression. There has been no sign of any. But they are upset about Iran's influence in the region. Also in the background is the concern that Iran might turn East. That's not discussed very much but that's certainly a policy concern," the feisty US political dissident added.

Chomsky's political activism dates back to the Vietnam War in the early 1960s when he established himself as a prominent critic of American foreign and domestic policy. --IRNA