The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has cancelled a trip to Iran because of the controversy over the Iranian president's remarks about Israel.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad drew international condemnation after he called for Israel to be 'wiped off the map'.
Mr Annan had been due to visit Tehran as part of his Middle East tour next week.
A spokesman for Mr Annan said the Secretary General and the Iranian government have agreed that is not an appropriate time for him to travel to Iran.
