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  • Iran 'ready for dialogue with US'

    Iran 'ready for dialogue with US'


    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he would welcome talks with the US as long as they were based on "mutual respect".

    Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran, he said Iran would welcome change from the US as long as it was "fundamental".

    Mr Ahmadinejad has previously said the US must apologise for past "crimes" against Iran.

    The two nations cut ties in 1979 after the US-backed Shah was overthrown.

    "The new US administration has announced that they want to produce change and pursue the course of dialogue," Mr Ahmadinejad said at a rally in central Tehran attended by tens of thousands of people.

    "It is quite clear that real change must be fundamental and not tactical. It is clear the Iranian nation welcomes real changes and is ready for dialogue in a climate of equality and mutual respect."

    US overtures

    Mr Ahmadinejad's remarks come a day after US President Barack Obama said he was looking for "openings that can be created where we can start sitting across the table face-to-face".

    "I think there's the possibility, at least, of a relationship of mutual respect and progress," Mr Obama said, but "it's time now for Iran to send some signals that it wants to act differently."

    It was the latest in a series of positive remarks he has made about the possibility of direct US-Iranian talks.

    Iran's leaders may not know how to react to Mr Obama's overtures, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran, and it is not certain whether Mr Ahmadinejad's remarks are a rhetorical statement or a genuine opening for talks.

    Despite congratulating Mr Obama on his election victory in November, Mr Ahmadinejad later called for the US to apologise for its past "crimes" against Iran and for the US to withdraw all its troops from around the world, in order for talks to be held.

    That outburst followed an offer from Mr Obama to extend the hand of friendship to Iran if it "unclenched its fist".

    The two countries cut ties in 1979 after Iranian students stormed the US embassy in Tehran and occupied it for 444 days, holding dozens of American diplomats hostage.

    For the last 30 years, Iranian officials have regularly referred to the US as the "Great Satan".

    Relations have worsened further in recent years as the US has led efforts to prevent Iran from further developing its nuclear programme, which some Western nations fear will lead to nuclear weapons.

    Tehran says its nuclear programme is for civilian, energy-generating purposes only.

    Relations reached a low under Mr Obama's predecessor, George Bush, who famously included Iran in what he called the "Axis of Evil", along with North Korea and Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

    "The world does not want the dark era of [George Bush] to be repeated," Mr Ahmadinejad warned at Tuesday's rally.

    "If some people seek to repeat that experience... they should know they will face a much worse fate than Bush's."
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  • #2
    I find it funny that Ahmadinejad wants to talk now. Could it be because his competition in the elections will willingly talk over the issues and that he is scared because of this persons popularity and the poor economy? Your own people have voiced that you have spent way too much time with rhetoric and making enemies and not enough time on the peoples issues. IMO his demand for any apology will fall upon deaf ears because it just wont happen. And if it does happen Mr. Obama will be subject to much criticism and you will see his popularity fall like a rock among the military and those that remember. Good Luck with your words Mr. Obama and choose them wisely because many who trusted putting you into that office will be watching you and hope you are the person you claim to be.
    Last edited by Dreadnought; 11 Feb 09,, 15:10.
    Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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    • #3
      Obama has no business apologizing to A-jad.

      A-jad and Bush are relics of the past now. Obama should wait till after Iranian elections.

      That would be a clean start and then take it from there.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by xerxes View Post
        Obama has no business apologizing to A-jad.

        A-jad and Bush are relics of the past now. Obama should wait till after Iranian elections.

        That would be a clean start and then take it from there.
        Perhaps. I get the sense many Iranians have had it with Ahmadinejad.

        The international community's preference would be former President Mohammad Khatami.

        Nevertheless, I think the US & Iran should start talking now. There will probably be no change of minds but it would soften tensions and rhetoric.

        Nebula82.
        Last edited by nebula82; 12 Feb 09,, 13:28.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Dreadnought View Post
          nd if it does happen Mr. Obama will be subject to much criticism and you will see his popularity fall like a rock among the military and those that remember.
          Going off-topic here but Obama's popularity with the military was never high to begin with anyway (I think the vast majority did not vote for Obama).

          Nebula82.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by xerxes View Post
            Obama has no business apologizing to A-jad.

            A-jad and Bush are relics of the past now. Obama should wait till after Iranian elections.

            That would be a clean start and then take it from there.
            Xerxes,

            You have summed it up perfectly, IMO.

            William
            Pharoh was pimp but now he is dead. What are you going to do today?

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by xerxes View Post
              Obama has no business apologizing to A-jad.

              A-jad and Bush are relics of the past now. Obama should wait till after Iranian elections.

              That would be a clean start and then take it from there.
              very well put, but I would say that US should start engaging iran now, so that the tensions are softened and A-jad doesnt have any anti-US rhetoric to fall back upon in his elections. also, when regime does change in iran, US would have a head start. so, start talking but dont take A-jad too seriously, would be the mantra.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by nebula82 View Post
                Going off-topic here but Obama's popularity with the military was never high to begin with anyway (I think the vast majority did not vote for Obama).

                Nebula82.
                As an aside, a quick check on wikipedia shows that from CNN exit polls Obama got 44% of the military vote, McCain 54%. Majority, but a fairly small one.
                Smells like napalm, tastes like chicken!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Despite congratulating Mr Obama on his election victory in November, Mr Ahmadinejad later called for the US to apologise for its past "crimes" against Iran and for the US to withdraw all its troops from around the world, in order for talks to be held.



                  Only a total loon would make such a statement. Guess they wont be talking but perhaps once Ach is gone the two countries may.
                  Last edited by Dreadnought; 13 Feb 09,, 21:03.
                  Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Swift Sword View Post
                    Xerxes,

                    You have summed it up perfectly, IMO.

                    William
                    Seconded
                    In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

                    Leibniz

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Thrice

                      Xerxes,

                      Nicely put.

                      This board is suspended pending results from the Iranian elections.:))
                      "This aggression will not stand, man!" Jeff Lebowski
                      "The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool." Lester Bangs

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                      • #12
                        seems to me a classic case of two sides trying for upmanship.

                        i) Obama made a campaign promise of starting talks with iran. At the same time, US needs some amount of leeway with respect to afghanistan routes. He has promised to increase soldiers in Afghan. The pakistan routes are not very stable and the turkmenistan route is being held in hostage by the russians. The route built by Indians from Zaranj on the iran border to deleram, roughly the centre of afghan. Note the road is a straight line to Bandar Abbas. So US if it could squeeze out this, it would be great for them. They need not have it, but the moment it becomes a possibility, Pak will have to come down and show something positive on ground. It is also worried about possible iran's nuclear ambitions.

                        ii) For Iran, talking itself out of american sanctions would be great. It posts a definitely huge expenditure to squeeze itself through the american dominated international financial system. It has only been able to survive due to its oil. It realises this and though trying to make some advancements, it lags far far behind america. It finds itself surrounded on all sides by american client states most of which have american forces on the ground- iraq, kuwait, afghanistan, pakistan, turkey, saudi arabia. The adminstration of iran came into being, throwing the american backed shah and the relations between iran and america are not too "great" and the domestic rhetoric is not pro-america.

                        Thus both US and iran cannot be seen as approaching the talks from a position of weakness. What can change in the next possible few months/ days. One could be further deteriotion of pakistan supply route or an advancement in iran's nuclear and missile field. I expect both and expect leaks of iran's nuclear intentions ala iraq, in the next few months.

                        Would this be an accurate explanation of what is happening.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by xerxes View Post
                          Obama has no business apologizing to A-jad.

                          A-jad and Bush are relics of the past now. Obama should wait till after Iranian elections.

                          That would be a clean start and then take it from there.
                          Xerxes,

                          However unfortunate, anti-american is never out of fashion in many islamic states. I have not been a good student in latest irans politics. Can you point me to some links which show A-jad position is weakening.
                          I agree that the right time is only after the elections. If A-jad loses, the new govt will require atleast 1 year to settle down and thus only 2010-11 would be the possible start of the lower level talks. If he wins, well ............

                          Thanks in advance.

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