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Iran's supreme leader rejects Obama overtures

During a speech to tens of thousands of supporters in the holy city of Mashhad, Khamenei responded to a video message Obama released on Friday in which he said he hopes for a greater communication between the two countries after 30 years of strained relations.
As he spoke, the crowd chanted "Death to America."

Khamenei objected to the fact Obama sent best wishes for the new year while also accusing Iran of supporting terrorism and procuring nuclear weapons.
The remarks show that even Obama's rhetoric does not differ from his predecessor's, Khamenei said.
"He (Obama) insulted the Islamic Republic of Iran from the first day," Khamenei said. "If you are right that change has come, where is that change? What is the sign of that change? Make it clear for us what has changed."
Khamenei indicated that closer ties between the two countries could be achieved if a new tone is set by the Obama administration.
Diplomatic ties between the countries were severed after a group of students held 52 U.S. diplomats hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran for 444 days, beginning in November, 1979.
The hostage crisis came after the Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the pro-United States shah and brought in a government of Islamic clerics.
However, Khamenei exhibited little will to bend, using his speech to outline a long list of grievances against the United States, including U.S. sanctions against Iran, U.S. support for Saddam Hussein during his 1980-88 war against Iran and the downing of an Iranian airliner over the Persian Gulf in 1988.
"Have you released Iranian assets? Have you lifted oppressive sanctions? Have you given up mudslinging and making accusations against the great Iranian nation and its officials? Have you given up your unconditional support for the Zionist regime? Even the language remains unchanged," Khamenei said.

"Death to America" was Iran's reply to Obama's message!

I admit I don't really know much about politics but I just wanted to say that obama came in a very hard time, after all that G.W.B has done a drastic change shouldn't realy be expected, I think that having an african american as the president of the united states is in itself the change, I don't want to talk about the situation between the US and Iran (cuz I don't know much about that) but I think every country should be able to do its nuclear researches without the interference of any other country.

Death to America ! Ahhh So now I understand why Iran wants Nuclear .....

their is no proof that they will actualy use it against america though, I just think that nuclear energy has so many benefits other than bombs (I still have some physics resedue in my brain of all those physics classes loOoOl) I just don't think it would be logical for a country to tell another to stop their researches, no one told Alfred nobel to stop his researches on dynamite!!!
"death to america" I would like to know who said that irani people said that?!

Nouran, what kind of proof do you need? I think it's wise to assume that a country that has had a burning hatred of the U.S. for the past 30 years and has proved it in both words and actions repeatedly and whose leader has openly stated he wants to see an entire country and its citizens (Israel) wiped off the face of the earth COULD very well use nuclear technology for ill. I'm just sayin'.
Anyway, does something like this really belong on our lovely Forum??

Yikes!!! I have to disagree with that.

Nuclear experiments are dangerous. Not only to the people experimenting but to either almost or all of the country.

Like tangobunny said, Iran has threatened to wipe out Israel and the leader of Iran doesn't want to try to make peace with the USA which makes it pretty clear they will either use it on Israel, the USA, or even both.

The USA already used a nuclear bomb once on on Japan. I don't think any country should have the oppertunity to do such a cruel thing again.

The Iran government is an actual threat not only the USA but to other parts of the world as well.

What do you anti war “hypocrites” want the United Nations to do next to prevent a Nuclear disaster if economic sanctions don’t work in Iran?

Nuclear programs are available for all countries. In every country they are regulated by Untied Nations International Atomic Energy Agency Nuclear Inspectors (not the United States). These inspectors “scientists” come from all nations. They make sure each country is using the program for legal means example energy. When leaders of countries such as Saddam in Iraq who blocked inspectors from reporting on their program break international laws, they are financially punished by international economic sanctions. If they continue to defy United Nations (the rest of the world) they are faced with military actions. These are policies that were agreed upon when countries join the international community “The Council of United Nations”, but once you defy inspections it becomes a major safety concern to the rest of the world. One Example is the Nuclear disaster in Russia.

Iran has decided to take the same illegal route as Saddam in Iraq, Syria, and North Korea. Let’s not forget...Iraq defied UN regulations for over 10 years it had the second longest list of UN broken resolutions next to North Korea. Iraq also invaded Kuwait causing the first gulf war. Saddam was ousted out of power by United Nations Military made up of all nations not just the United States and George W. Bush although America provided the largest amount of military and solders. These countries are Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Rep, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, , United Kingdom, and Ukraine 70% of the world countries in the United Nations Council voted to go to war on Iraq along with a 70% of American Congress http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LI...n=2&vote=00237 . A much higher percentage amount than when the United Nations Military attacked Yugoslavia a country without weapons of mass destruction to oust a less brutal dictator who committed genocide.

Today…THE United Nations nuclear inspectors “world watchdog” says Iran is continuing to obstruct its investigation into allegations of past work on nuclear weapons, but the country's uranium enrichment program is expanding more than expected.
The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, due to be released today, is likely to sharpen debate within the Obama Administration, which is reviewing its Iran policy.
Previewing the report, the director-general of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, gave a scathing assessment of Iran's co-operation with its inquiries into the country's past nuclear experimentation, alleged by the United States to be aimed at building weapons. "Iran, right now, is not providing any access or any clarification with … those studies or the whole possible military dimension," he said in Paris.
The report will also make clear that Iran is still defying UN Security Council demands to stop enriching uranium, despite three sets of UN sanctions. But Mr. ElBaradei said Iran had not significantly expanded its enrichment program at its Natanz plant in the past few months, in what he suggested might be a deliberate attempt not to stoke tensions too far.
Western diplomats urged caution over Mr. ElBaradei's conclusions, saying Iran's enrichment program has varied in speed over the years but has relentlessly expanded in the face of UN sanctions and possible US and Israeli military action.

Can't even be assed to comment on this thread..............sorree!

I think Iran should be allowed to do its nuclear researches but under the direct supervision of the united nations, of course I wouldn't want any war to happen especialy one with nuclear weapons killing civilians. but I also think that nuclear energy has many benefits that the irani people should not be denied.

Nouran when a pip squeak like Arimajade makes statements on the World news that Israel should be wiped off the map , Death to the U.S. shows he is not responsible to have anything nuclear in his possession . No country is against nuclear energy ! but is that his intention ? I would say no !