Lowell - see here for Prof. Cole's explanation as to why Ahmadinejad didn't really say the "wipe off the map" quote everyone thinks he said:

The precise reason for Hitchens' theft and publication of my private mail is that I object to the characterization of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as having "threatened to wipe Israel off the map." I object to this translation of what he said on two grounds. First, it gives the impression that he wants to play Hitler to Israel's Poland, mobilizing an armored corps to move in and kill people.

But the actual quote, which comes from an old speech of Khomeini, does not imply military action, or killing anyone at all. The second reason is that it is just an inexact translation. The phrase is almost metaphysical. He quoted Khomeini that "the occupation regime over Jerusalem should vanish from the page of time." It is in fact probably a reference to some phrase in a medieval Persian poem. It is not about tanks.

He's still crazy, but he's not suicidal and likely not a real threat outside his borders.  This is important to note, given that the previous crazy but non-threatening Mid East ruler of the hour (one with a lot more power over the country's military) was Saddam Hussien.

and think that, like much of what Juan Cole writes, it's absurd and tainted by his strong, almost rabid anti-Israel bias.  No, I am NOT a Juan Cole fan.

Read more here and here.

There's no basis in fact to this story.