Obama vows persistence with Iran

 
Source: Press TV, 25-03-2009

President Barack Obama says he did not expect his recent message to bring swift change to relations between the United States and Iran.

"Some people said, 'Well they did not immediately say they were eliminating nuclear weapons and stop funding terrorism.' Well, we did not expect that. We expect that we are going to make steady progress on this front," Obama said in a nationally televised news conference on Tuesday.

In an unprecedented Nowruz (Persian New Year) message released last week, President Obama said he seeks a "new beginning" with Tehran.
"For nearly three decades relations between our nations have been strained. But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together," the US president had said in his message last week.

"We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect," he added.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, later responded and said Washington must demonstrate change in practice.

"Avoid an arrogant tone, avoid arrogant behavior, avoid bullying, do not interfere in any nation's affairs," Ayatollah Khamenei advised the US president.
Tehran nevertheless left the door wide open for rapprochement. "If you change your attitude, we will change our attitude."

Obama responded that issues pertinent to the Middle East and Iran can be resolved. "If you are persistent, then these problems can be dealt with."
"That whole philosophy of persistence, by the way, is one that I'm going to be emphasizing again and again in the months and years to come as long as I'm in this office," he explained.

Washington and Tehran have had no diplomatic ties for almost three decades. The two states ended all relations in the aftermath of the 1980 US embassy takeover in Tehran.