Iran seeks big changes on US foreign policy

THE Iranian president called for “profound changes” in US foreign policy yesterday, saying the Islamic Republic would welcome a real and fundamental shift from the new American administration.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s comments in the western city of Kermanshah come as President Barack Obama indicated a new willingness to reach out to Muslims and the importance of engaging with Iran, a country the Bush administration often singled out as the most dangerous in the region.

Without mentioning Obama by name, Ahmadinejad repeatedly referred to those who want to bring “change,” a word used often in Obama’s election campaign, and indicated that Iran would be looking to see if there would be substantive differences in US policy.

“We will wait patiently, listen to their words carefully, scrutinise their actions under a magnifier and if change happens truly and fundamentally, we will welcome that,” Ahmadinejad said, speaking to a crowd.

But the Iranian leader also criticised the US, saying it should apologise to Iran for past misdeeds.

The hardline president also called on Washington to withdraw its troops from around the world and stop supporting Israel.

In an interview with Al-Arabiya news channel that aired on Tuesday, Obama condemned Iran’s threats to destroy Israel and its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.

However, he said: “It is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but where there are potential avenues for progress.”

Later on Tuesday, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said the US administration is undertaking a wide-ranging and comprehensive survey of US foreign policy options toward Iran.

Clinton also said that Iran had a “clear opportunity” to demonstrate some willingness to engage meaningfully with the international community.