Iran's Ahmadinejad calls for TV debate with Obama

The provocative proposal comes as Iran deals with a new wave of international sanctions -- driven by Washington -- aimed at putting pressure on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

"Toward the end of summer we will hopefully be there for the (U.N.) General Assembly and I will be ready for one-on-one talks with Mr. Obama, in front of the media of course," Ahmadinejad told a conference of Iranian expatriates in Tehran.

"We will offer our solutions for world issues to see whose solutions are better."

Ahmadinejad suggested such a debate last September, which was not taken up by Washington. He said Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, had declined similar invitations because he was "scared".