In his address on the Iranian New Year Obama said the United States seeks engagement with Iran "that is honest and grounded in mutual respect". "I am looking forward to the time when old difficulties will be overcome and we'll have new opportunities of cooperation and trade. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right — but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of that greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and create. My administration is now committed to diplomacy and to pursuing constructive ties," noted the US President in his address to the Iranian people.
Thus, administration of the new US President refuses to acknowledge the isolationist policy of ex-President Bush, who routinely said Iran was part of an "axis of evil." Obama expressed openness and readiness towards establishing diplomatic ties with Tehran, BBC reports.
But, as it is always the case, the Islamic Republic of Iran is in no haste to change her policy towards the United States. Tehran is still guided by the slogan of the Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini: "The United States is great satan, the Soviet Union – not so great, but they both bear ill will to Iran". That was why the reaction of Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, was so reserved. "We do not see any changes in the hostile attitude of the US towards Iran. They talk of change but there are no changes in action. We have not seen any changes. You have to change but this change should not be just in words. We do not have any experience with the new American president and government. We'll see and judge. You change, we will change as well. If you don't change, our people have become more and more experienced, stronger and more patient in the past 30 years," Said Khamenei in response to President Obama's Nowruz day message.
In a word, everything is as usual: threats, intimidations, bravado – and as a result, as always – no one is ready to retreat or give up their principles. Iran will make a bomb and threaten Israel; from time to time the USA will raise the «nuclear problem» in the UN and MAGATE. The only difference will be that Dick Cheney is no more in the White House and he will not insist on bombarding Tehran. No one in the world will understand Obama if he should take such an extreme measure, especially since Russia has engaged in the game. Henry Kissinger's latest visit to Moscow was called to convince Russia that Washington is still ready to come to an agreement with Russia on a number of issues, including the issue of Iran. Russia's plans regarding Iran are quite clear – she will be playing on the Iranians' self-respect and dignity and will incite them to play the role of a regional power. Moscow has been doing the same with Ankara. And now everything depends on the position the United States will take towards Iran and Turkey. Next month Barack Obama will have to make a choice – Iran or Turkey? It was assumed that the Jewish lobby could have some influence on the decision of the US President, but it is a more problematic issue nowadays. If the Jews were to choose, they would definitely prefer Turkey, which is less fanatic in religious matters. However, in a wider sense, the best decision for the USA would be the judgment worthy of Solomon: be on friendly terms with everyone she has common interests with, notwithstanding political regimes and difference in civilizations.
