Ahmadinejad blasts Israeli leader in Larry King interview

New York (CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out at Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with CNN's Larry King Wednesday, calling the Israeli prime minister a "skilled killer" who "should be put on trial for killing women and children."

The Iranian president denied that international sanctions were hurting his country, and refused to commit to meeting President Obama if the opportunity arose.

Ahmadinejad also deflected questions about Iran's nuclear program, saying Iran has "no interest" in a nuclear bomb and that no one is concerned about Iran's intentions other than "the Zionist regime and some American authorities."

"We are not seeking the bomb," Ahmadinejad said.

The United States and its allies are not convinced by Iran's regular denials, and the International Atomic Energy Agency -- a United Nations body -- says it cannot confirm that Iran is not diverting nuclear materials for military purposes.

International powers discussing Iran's nuclear program with Tehran are pushing to restart negotiations soon, a senior U.S. official told CNN Wednesday. Iran has not responded to the request.

Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad insisted that "we have no interest in [a nuclear bomb] and we do not think that it is useful."

los angeles dui defense

"Both the Zionist regime and the United States government should be disarmed," he said. "The threat to the world are the bombs that the U.S. government and the Zionist regime have."

Iran normally refuses to refer to Israel by name, calling it "the Zionist regime."

Ahmadinejad is in New York for the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

He regularly challenges American presidents to talk to him in front of the world's media during the UNGA, but did not clearly commit to talking to Obama when King asked him about it.

"It depends," he said.

"I think it would be very good to sit before members of other states and the media and to discuss our views -- to have an exchange at the United Nations. I think that would be very positive so that everyone could hear what we have to say and it could help resolve many problems," he said.

Ahmadinejad denied having direct influence over the case of two American hikers who have been detained in Iran for more than a year without trial.

There is a "chance" Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer could be released but a judge must make the decision, he said.

A third American who was detained with them, Sarah Shourd, was released last week.

Ahmadinejad said her release was "because of mercy, compassion and as a humanitarian gesture."

He said he had "suggested" it but that he had "no influence" over the legal process.

He spoke to King through a translator.

Schwarzenegger tours Calif. gas line blast site

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Fresh off a weeklong trade mission to Asia, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday made his first official stop in California the site of a massive gas line explosion at a San Francisco suburb.

Nearly 40 homes were destroyed and at least four people were killed last week in the San Bruno neighborhood.

Three people are still listed as missing, authorities said. They all lived at the same address, just yards from the source of the blast.

Schwarzenegger held a news conference and was briefed individually by city, state and federal officials, at least one of whom prompted the governor to wipe tears from his eyes. He also talked with some residents and first responders informally, according to a spokeswoman.

When asked why he did not end his trip to Asia and return immediately to California, Schwarzenegger said he trusted Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, a fellow Republican and the state's acting governor while Schwarzenegger was out of the country.

The governor said that the day after the explosion, he spoke to President Barack Obama by telephone and requested a federal disaster declaration.

Speaking from a vantage point overlooking a massive crater and destroyed homes, Schwarzenegger credited emergency personnel and others for their fast response.

His backdrop was the charred, barren trees, mangled houses, and a San Bruno fire command vehicle with a map taped on its side showing the blast site, affected homes and state wildfires.

Click image to see photos from the explosion scene

AP/Paul Sakuma

"Every fire expert can tell you that what you do the first few hours is what counts and I think they responded quickly those first few hours," Schwarzenegger said.

He did not say if that included PG&E officials, who have been criticized for being slow in turning off a valve controlling the gas.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. President Chris Johns told reporters that manual valves, like the ones workers had to shut in order to close off the flow of natural gas in the pipeline, are used by utilities nationwide.

Johns said the company responded immediately and suggested that heavy traffic might have contributed to a delay in getting the valves closed after the explosion.

Safety is a core company value, he said.

"There is nothing more urgent than maintaining the safety of our pipelines and of our electric lines," Johns said.

The governor took the microphone back as reporters peppered Johns with questions.

"I will make sure that we will get every single detail," Schwarzenegger said, promising a thorough and open investigation. "I'm back now and I'm going to drill down into that information."

California state Sen. Leland Yee, speaking to bathroom ideas reporter after the press conference, said it was a "no brainer" that there should have been automatic valves.

"Their pipes are what we call a high risk area and there ought to have been an automatic shut-off," said Yee, who represents the neighborhood.

NTSB lead investigator for the explosion, Ravindra Chhatre, said the ruptured pipe was "probably two-thirds of the way to Washington D.C.," where it will be tested to determine how and where it was fractured. He provided no further details on the investigation.

San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane said the city has relocated 271 people and was meeting one-on-one with victims who cannot return to their homes.

Some nearby residents came to hear the governor speak, including Joe Malaspina, 19, whose home was "green flagged," or declared habitable.

"I'm not really angry," he said. "PG&E — they're doing their best and I feel maybe this coulda been avoided, but it is an accident. It's not like they blew it up purposefully."