Bush: Iran aid proves we are compassionate

President George Bush has told Iran that US humanitarian aid to earthquake victims should prove that America is compassionate, even though it lists the country as a state sponsor of terrorism.

But, speaking to reporters in southern Texas where he and his father went quail hunting on New Year’s Day, Bush did not change the US public stance towards Iran – a nation he has labelled, along with Iraq and North Korea, as an “axis of evil”.

The president continued to call on Iran to give up its nuclear weapons and do more to fight terrorism, but his words lacked the harsh, warring tones of earlier statements he had made about the nation.

“What we’re doing in Iran is we’re showing the Iranian people the American people care, that we’ve got great compassion for human suffering,” Bush said.

US officials have raised the possibility that Iran’s acceptance of American aid following a massive earthquake that killed nearly 30,000 may be a sign of slow movement towards better relations between the long-time enemies. Secretary of State Colin Powell said earlier in the week that there were encouraging developments in Iran and that Tehran was demonstrating a ”new attitude” on some issues.

Bush said the United States was glad the Iranian government had allowed US humanitarian aid flights into the country. “It’s right to take care of people when they hurt, and we’re doing that,” Bush said.

But he added: “The Iranian government must listen to the voices of those who long for freedom, must turn over al-Qaida that are in their custody and must abandon their nuclear weapons programme.

“And, as well, it’s very important for them to listen to those voices in their country who are demanding freedom,” Bush said, repeating his support for pro-democracy forces. ”We stand strongly with those who demand freedom.”

Iran signed an accord on December 18 to open its nuclear facilities to international inspectors.

While thanking the US government for its humanitarian relief work, Iranian president Mohammad Khatami said earlier this week that there could be no thaw in a 25-year diplomatic freeze unless Washington changed its tone and behaviour.

But yesterday, Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi said the Bush administration’s decision to lift sanctions on Iran for 90 days to allow aid to enter was a ”positive step”.

Former president Hashemi Rafsanjani also welcomed the US move. Asked if these signals could mean improved Iran-US relations, he said: “I am not sure, but the signals point in that direction.”