Iran president hits back over nuclear criticism

By Parisa Hafezi

TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hit back at a senior adviser to Iran's top authority who had criticized his "provocative" speeches about the country's nuclear work, which the West says is a cover to build bombs.

Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed unusual public criticism by telling an Iranian daily this month the government should be more careful when speaking about the nuclear issue.

Velayati, a former foreign minister, did not mention the president by name but he clearly meant Ahmadinejad.

"Velayati is a respected man. Like everyone else in Iran, he is free to have personal views ... But he is not involved in nuclear decision making," Ahmadinejad said in comments carried by Mardomsalari newspaper.

Ahmadinejad's riposte reflects what some analysts see as a dispute over tactics on how to handle the nuclear issue, with hardliners backing Ahmadinejad's uncompromising approach towards the West and others saying he is further isolating Iran.

But such debate rarely comes out in the open between senior politicians. Officials, speaking openly and privately, insist there is no difference in the broader strategy on continuing Iran's nuclear plans without any halt.

Moderate politicians and even some of Ahmadinejad's conservative opponents say his speeches on the nuclear issue have exacerbated Iran's isolation.

But Khamenei, who has the last word on nuclear policy, has praised Ahmadinejad for his handling atomic matters.