Terror attacks transform U.S. image in Iran's media

The deadly terror attacks in the United States transformed the super power's image in Iran overnight, with the official media providing a rare glimpse of the enemy's human side after two decades of demonising it.

For the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranians are being offered a more realistic picture of the United States, a country once depicted as the "Great Satan," the "Great oppressor" and a "paragon of pagan decadence".

State television, which in the past heavily distorted news about the United States, has been giving full coverage of the events in New York and Washington, complete with details of human suffering.

Iranian leaders, from reformist to conservative, have strongly condemned the attacks in an unprecedented expression of sympathy for their long-time enemy, and offered cooperation to fight terrorism.

"We condemn any act of terror and murder of innocent people. No Muslim can be pleased about such a human catastrophe," Hassan Rowhani, a top security official, said on Wednesday.

Tehran and Washington broke off diplomatic relations after the revolution which toppled the U.S.-allied shah. They have since been at loggerheads and no senior Iranian officials had previously expressed sympathy openly for the United States.

Now the official media and politicians are breaking long-held taboos, displaying uninhibited emotions and using unconventional phrases to refer to the suicide plane attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

"Human catastrophe", "enormous crime", "murderers" and "terrorists," were terms once used against the United States rather than in sympathy with it.

The about-face appears to be prompted by the enormity of the tragedy and Iran's desire to shed its radical image in the West. The Islamic republic is on the U.S. State department list of states supporting international terrorism, a charge Tehran has always denied.

In their zeal to join the international condemnation, Iranian politicians have avoided their habitual double-language and flatly condemned the attacks. But some also drew parallels with American actions elsewhere in the world.

"Just as Iran is sad for America, the American government too should put greater value on the lives of people in other parts of world," Fatemeh Khatami, a member of parliament, told Iran's student news agency ISNA.

Parliamentary Speaker Mehdi Karroubi yesterday voiced concern over negative sentiments against Muslims in the United States, whipped up by the attacks.

"Any Muslim, any human being obviously denounces the killing of innocent citizens but, unfortunately, a poisonous climate has been created against Muslims. This is not right," he said on television.

The Speaker said he was concerned that Israel could exploit the situation to intensify the "repression" of Palestinians.

Many have urged the United States not to jump to conclusions and single out Muslim groups for blame.

"The Americans have done that before and then realised it was a mistake," said former MP Mohammed Reza Bahonar, referring to the Oklahoma city federal building bombing. "There is a serious need to review past attitudes so we can truly eradicate terrorism."