Obama extends Iran olive branch
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Daily News with wires
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 21, 2009 00:00
WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama launches a landmark direct appeal to the Iranian people, saying his country is prepared to end years of strained relations if Tehran tones down its bellicose rhetoric. Iran plays down Obama's message, saying it welcomes the overtures, but also warns that decades of mistrust cannot easily be erased
U.S. president made his warmest offer yet of a fresh start in relations with Iran, which cautiously welcomed the overture, but said on Friday it was waiting for "practical steps," not talk.
"My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community," Barack Obama said in a video message with Farsi subtitles released to Mideast broadcasters. The video released Friday was timed to the festival of Nevruz, which means "New Day." It's a major holiday in Iran.
"So in this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran's leaders," Obama said. "We have serious differences that have grown over time. You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations," The Associated Press quoted him as saying. Obama has signaled a willingness to speak directly with Iran about its nuclear program and hostility toward Israel, a key U.S. ally. At his inauguration, the president said his administration would reach out to rival states, declaring "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."
’Minor changes’
Iran played down Obama's video message, with Ahmadinejad's press adviser saying "minor changes will not end the differences." In separate New Year messages to their nation, neither supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei nor President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad mentioned the offer. Khamenei said world powers had been persuaded they could not block Iran's nuclear progress. In a separate speech, Ahmadinejad said world powers had reached a "dead end".
Aliakbar Javanfekr, aide to Ahmadinejad, told Reuters: "The Iranian nation has shown that it can forget hasty behavior, but we are awaiting practical steps by the United States. The Obama administation so far has just talked," he added, calling for "fundamental changes in his policy towards Iran".
He told the Iranian state-run English-language Press TV station that Iran will never forget U.S. meddling in Tehran's affairs. The two broke off relations after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Mohammad Hassan Khani, assistant professor of international relations at Tehran's Imam Sadiq University, described it as a positive gesture but noted it came only a week after the extension of U.S. economic sanctions. "This is making people here confused," he said.
Meanwhile, Obama's landmark call drew international praise on Friday, with world leaders hoping Tehran will react positively to the olive branch.
French leader Nicolas Sarkozy said that Obama's speech was good news, reported Agence-France-Presse. "I think it is a very constructive message," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said. Italian FMFranco Frattini praised Obama, saying he "has shown great leadership." Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said: "The start of substantive dialogue will facilitate the revival of trust in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program."
"My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community," Barack Obama said in a video message with Farsi subtitles released to Mideast broadcasters. The video released Friday was timed to the festival of Nevruz, which means "New Day." It's a major holiday in Iran.
"So in this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran's leaders," Obama said. "We have serious differences that have grown over time. You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations," The Associated Press quoted him as saying. Obama has signaled a willingness to speak directly with Iran about its nuclear program and hostility toward Israel, a key U.S. ally. At his inauguration, the president said his administration would reach out to rival states, declaring "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."
’Minor changes’
Iran played down Obama's video message, with Ahmadinejad's press adviser saying "minor changes will not end the differences." In separate New Year messages to their nation, neither supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei nor President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad mentioned the offer. Khamenei said world powers had been persuaded they could not block Iran's nuclear progress. In a separate speech, Ahmadinejad said world powers had reached a "dead end".
Aliakbar Javanfekr, aide to Ahmadinejad, told Reuters: "The Iranian nation has shown that it can forget hasty behavior, but we are awaiting practical steps by the United States. The Obama administation so far has just talked," he added, calling for "fundamental changes in his policy towards Iran".
He told the Iranian state-run English-language Press TV station that Iran will never forget U.S. meddling in Tehran's affairs. The two broke off relations after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Mohammad Hassan Khani, assistant professor of international relations at Tehran's Imam Sadiq University, described it as a positive gesture but noted it came only a week after the extension of U.S. economic sanctions. "This is making people here confused," he said.
Meanwhile, Obama's landmark call drew international praise on Friday, with world leaders hoping Tehran will react positively to the olive branch.
French leader Nicolas Sarkozy said that Obama's speech was good news, reported Agence-France-Presse. "I think it is a very constructive message," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said. Italian FMFranco Frattini praised Obama, saying he "has shown great leadership." Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said: "The start of substantive dialogue will facilitate the revival of trust in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program."