Iran's most powerful figure today dismissed President Obama's extraordinary Persian New Year gesture, insisting that the U.S. administration's actions must match its rhetoric before Iran would alter its foreign policy stances.
Supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who is Iran's highest spiritual, military and political authority, told supporters in his hometown of Mashhad today that "changes in words" won't be enough to convince Iran that the Obama administration is sincere in its outlook.
We do not have any record of the new U.S. president," he said in a live television broadcast. "We are observing, watching and judging. If you change, we will also change our behavior. If you do not change, we will be the same nation as 30 years ago."
The crowd chanted, "God is great! Khamenei is the leader!"
As he spoke, Khamenei glanced cursorily at his notes, suggesting his words were carefully considered. His remarks were the most detailed and authoritative response by any Iranian leader to several attempts by the Obama administration to reach out to the Islamic Republic.
Obama early Friday morning issued a 3 1/2 -minute videotape congratulating Iranian people and officials on the occasion of the important holiday, acknowledging 30 years of strained relations and offering a new beginning.
Iranian officials quickly responded by welcoming the address but voicing skepticism about its sincerity. Khamenei today recited a list of alleged U.S. wrongdoings over the last three decades, including the 1988 downing of an Iranian civilian plane by a U.S. warship in the Persian Gulf, the freezing of Iranian assets, and strong support for Israel and armed Iranian opposition groups.
"They are talking of extending a hand to Iran on the occasion of the New Year and they are congratulating the Iranian people," he said. "At the same time, they are accusing [Iran] of terrorism and the manufacturing of nuclear weapons."
Washington and Iran went separate ways after a 1979 revolution that overthrew the American-backed monarchy Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and established the Islamic Republic. That same year, radical Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held American employees hostage for 444 days, poisoning relations between the two former allies.
Khamenei listed a lifting economic sanctions and a retraction of "hostile propaganda" as examples of welcomed shifts in U.S. policies.
"For you to say that we will both talk to Iran and simultaneously exert pressure on her, both threats and appeasement, our nation hates this approach," he said.
Obama has said he is committed to improving America's image abroad after what most analysts consider a sullying of the U.S. reputation following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and abuses of detainees in the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay prisons.
To improve America's standing abroad, Khamenei advised Obama, "avoid an arrogant tone, avoid arrogant behavior, avoid bullying behavior, do not interfere in nations' affairs, be contented with your own share, do not define interests extraterritorially all over the world."
He urged Obama to get his words translated, but suggested he not use "Zionist" translators, drawing laughter from the audience.
No comments:
Post a Comment