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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Iran sees no change in US stance | Iran sees no change in US stance |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said he sees no change in America's attitude towards Iran. | Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said he sees no change in America's attitude towards Iran. |
| But he also said Iran was willing to change if President Barack Obama altered the US position on Iran. | But he also said Iran was willing to change if President Barack Obama altered the US position on Iran. |
| President Obama on Thursday offered "a new beginning" in relations with Iran, in a video message to Iran's leaders and people. | President Obama on Thursday offered "a new beginning" in relations with Iran, in a video message to Iran's leaders and people. |
| Relations between Iran and the US have been strained over Tehran's controversial nuclear activities. | Relations between Iran and the US have been strained over Tehran's controversial nuclear activities. |
| "We have no experience with the new American government and the new American president. We will observe them and we will judge," said Ayatollah Khamenei in a speech carried live by Iranian television. | "We have no experience with the new American government and the new American president. We will observe them and we will judge," said Ayatollah Khamenei in a speech carried live by Iranian television. |
| "If you change your attitude, we will change our attitude." | "If you change your attitude, we will change our attitude." |
| He said Iran was yet to see such a change. | |
| "We cannot see any change," he said. "What is the change in your policy? | |
| "Did you remove the sanctions? Did you stop supporting the Zionist regime? Tell us what you have changed. Change only in words is not enough." | |
| Ayatollah Khamenei's comments echoed those of an adviser to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who said on Friday that Washington must reverse its support for Israel and end sanctions against Iran. | |
| Mr Obama's offer came in a direct video address to mark the Iranian New Year. | |
| In the message, Mr Obama said he was seeking engagement with Iran that was "honest and based on mutual respect". | |
| "My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us," he said. | |
| The address was distributed to news outlets in Iran with subtitles in Farsi, and posted on the White House website. | |
| Mr Obama's approach - prefigured in his inauguration speech - was seen as a dramatic departure from the policies of the Bush administration, which described Iran as part of the "axis of evil". |