Sept. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the power of the U.S. is waning and the state of Israel will fail.

``The oppressive power of the U.S. is on the decline,'' Ahmadinejad said today at a news conference in Tehran, broadcast live on state television. Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly denied Israel's right to exist, added, ``The regime of Israel, which is the core of aggression, is nearing the end.''

The Iranian leader said he has ``no plan'' to hold talks with the U.S. presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and the Democrats' Barack Obama. He said he is willing to debate with the candidates on international issues in front of the media.

McCain has criticized Obama's willingness to meet Ahmadinejad. Obama on Nov. 19 said, ``I will talk to Iran directly.'' On May 18 Obama, campaigning in Oregon, said, ``You've got to talk to countries like Iran and countries like Syria, even though they're our adversaries, the same way that John F. Kennedy talked'' to former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

Obama's running mate, Democratic Senator Joseph R. Biden of Delaware, has since said that Obama wouldn't negotiate unconditionally with such leaders.

The ``bad management of certain countries'' is the reason for the turmoil in the world's financial markets, Ahmadinejad told reporters.

``The world no longer has the capacity to absorb fake U.S. dollars. This is hitting back,'' the Iranian president said. ``Another reason is the U.S. and U.K.'s military intervention in other countries, which has led to heavy costs for them.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Ladane Nasseri in Tehran at lnasseri@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 18, 2008 08:43 EDT