Iran welcomes Obama message but wants action

Tehran: Iranian officials on Friday said that US President Barack Obama's message to Tehran was "positive" but that it needed "positive action".

Obama issued an unprecedented videotaped appeal to the Islamic Republic on Friday, urging a resolution of differences and an "honest" engagement with Tehran.

"Absolutely this message is positive...although it might also have negative points in itself as well," Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah said on the sidelines of the World Water Forum in Istanbul.

"The Iranian leaders will precisely assess this message. We believe that we need that in addition to messages we need positive action from Mr. Obama as well as from his government," Fattah said.

Aliakbar Javanfekr, an aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Obama should fundamentally change Washington's policy towards Iran.

"By fundamentally changing its behaviour America can offer us a friendly hand," he said, adding that the US needed to review the "unlimited sanctions" against Iran.

Ahmadinejad's press advisor, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, said the "American administration has to recognise its past mistakes and repair them as a way to put away the differences".

The United States has accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons—a charge that Iran denies.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, meanwhile, voiced hope that Obama's message would mark a "new chapter" in international relations with Tehran.

"I think it is a very constructive message," Solana told reporters as he entered talks on the second and last day of an EU summit in Brussels. "I hope it will open a new chapter in the relations with Tehran," he added.

Do you think the Obama administration will be successful in opening up fresh dialogue with Iran? Or do you think it is a lost cause? What obstacles would they have to overcome to accomplish this?

"DIALOGUE" is the only option left for U.S.A. and other allies in Iraq, Afghanistan or with Iran as the cost of war is unbearable and they have proved not unlimitedly rich and technically not that sound in striking the countries neither on moral grounds. It is not more but the buzz of new world order with in next 10 years.
Saqib Omar Saeed
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 21, 2009, 14:46

Dialogue with Iran is the ONLY way to resolve the issues, whatever the issue is. Of course, America has to be fair and honest. If America takes its dialogue script from Hollywood, and points the gun at Iran telling them that they can have only Bows and Arrows, it won't work, similar to their own messed up financial system - remember at one time they were lecturing other countries how to run their financial polices.
Sagoo
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 21, 2009, 13:17

The US policies are extension of it's economy. Who they'd be freind or enemy with depends on their national interest, not the president. This was a nice gesture from Presiden Obama, but needs to be coupled with action and not words. They just renewed their sanctions against Iran last week which makes the Iranian leaders think twice about responding to such invitations.
Nick Sheppard
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 21, 2009, 12:19

It's about the US changes its stance against Iran and stops bullying. Every country has the right to develop its resources to become self-sufficient, so does Iran. On the contrary, what about Israel having every capability?
Sohail Gill
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 21, 2009, 12:15

Let who ever be the president of America, their policy would be the same. And unless America will not changes it's policy against Iran, especially on two things, no dialogue would be possible among them.1.To remove all the restriction from Iran imposed by America.2.Not to regularly accuse Iran on developing it's own nuclear programme.
Shaikh Mohammad Ayoub
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 21, 2009, 10:18

I think that the dialogue with Iran is most probably the only way to prevent Iran, and quite possibly the whole of the middle-east.
Saeed H. H. Al Yousuf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 21, 2009, 09:27