US President Barack Obama vowed on Tuesday to continue pursuing Iran diplomacy while criticizing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his latest anti-Israel speech.

Speaking to reporters after holding talks with King Abdullah II of Jordan, Obama said that Ahmadinejad's fiery rhetoric at a United Nations racism conference was "not helpful, it is harmful. I think it actually hurts Iran's position in the world."

Iran's President President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses the High Level segment of the Durban Review Conference on racism at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva April 20, 2009. [Xinhua]

However, Obama added that the United States will keep seeking dialogue with Iran. "We will continue to pursue the possibility of improved relations and a resolution to some of the critical issues in which there have been differences, particularly around the nuclear issue," Obama said.

Ahmadinejad, who has previously called for Israel to be wiped off the map, said at the UN conference on racism on Monday that the formation of the Jewish state left "an entire national homeless under the pretext of Nazi suffering" in order "to establish a totally racist government in occupied Palestine."

Unidentified delegates walk out of the Assembly Hall as Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses the High Level segment of the Durban Review Conference on racism at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva April 20, 2009. [Xinhua]

France and other European countries walked out in protest during Ahmadinejad's speech. US Deputy Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said Ahmadinejad made a "vile and hateful speech".

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2009)