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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Iran demands change in US policy | Iran demands change in US policy |
| (5 days later) | |
| Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has demanded concrete policy changes from the US as the price for new relations between the two states. | Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has demanded concrete policy changes from the US as the price for new relations between the two states. |
| Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he had seen no change in America's attitude or policy, singling out US support for Israel and sanctions against Iran. | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he had seen no change in America's attitude or policy, singling out US support for Israel and sanctions against Iran. |
| But he also said that if President Barack Obama altered the US position, Iran was prepared to follow suit. | But he also said that if President Barack Obama altered the US position, Iran was prepared to follow suit. |
| President Obama on Thursday offered "a new beginning" in relations with Iran. | President Obama on Thursday offered "a new beginning" in relations with Iran. |
| He made the offer in a video message to Iran's leaders and people seen as a dramatic break with the approach of George W Bush's administration. | He made the offer in a video message to Iran's leaders and people seen as a dramatic break with the approach of George W Bush's administration. |
| Relations between Iran and the US have been strained over Tehran's nuclear activities. | Relations between Iran and the US have been strained over Tehran's nuclear activities. |
| BBC Iranian affairs analyst Sadeq Saba says that a minimum requirement for Iran would be a move by Washington to ease US sanctions. | BBC Iranian affairs analyst Sadeq Saba says that a minimum requirement for Iran would be a move by Washington to ease US sanctions. |
| 'Words not enough' | 'Words not enough' |
| Speaking to a large crowd in the holy city of Mashhad, Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran had "no experience with the new American government and the new American president". | |
| One gesture the US administration could make would be to ease some sanctions on passenger aeroplanes and spare parts Cyrus, Tehran Iran views: Obama message Send us your comments | |
| "We will observe them and we will judge," he said. | "We will observe them and we will judge," he said. |
| "If you change your attitude, we will change our attitude." | "If you change your attitude, we will change our attitude." |
| In the speech, which was carried live by Iranian television, he said Iran was yet to see such a change. | In the speech, which was carried live by Iranian television, he said Iran was yet to see such a change. |
| "What is the change in your policy?" he asked. | "What is the change in your policy?" he asked. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Sadeq Saba analyses Iranian response' | Sadeq Saba analyses Iranian response' |
| The BBC's Sadeq Saba says the Iranian supreme leader may be acting to prevent any internal division between moderates and hardliners over how to react to President Obama's offer. | The BBC's Sadeq Saba says the Iranian supreme leader may be acting to prevent any internal division between moderates and hardliners over how to react to President Obama's offer. |
| The demand for the US to withdraw support for Israel is clearly unrealistic, he says. | The demand for the US to withdraw support for Israel is clearly unrealistic, he says. |
| But any easing of bilateral sanctions or a freeze on Iranian assets could signal to Iran that the US is serious, he adds. | But any easing of bilateral sanctions or a freeze on Iranian assets could signal to Iran that the US is serious, he adds. |
| 'Mutual respect' | 'Mutual respect' |
| Mr Obama's offer came in a direct video address to mark the Iranian New Year. | 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". | In the message, Mr Obama said he was seeking engagement with Iran that was "honest and based on mutual respect". |
| Obama reaches out to Iran | Obama reaches out to Iran |
| "My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us," he said. | "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. | 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 clear departure from the approach of the Bush administration, which described Iran as part of the "axis of evil". | Mr Obama's approach - prefigured in his inauguration speech - was seen as a clear departure from the approach of the Bush administration, which described Iran as part of the "axis of evil". |
| In another possible move towards engagement, the state department is said to be considering an overture in the form of a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei before the Iranian elections this summer. | In another possible move towards engagement, the state department is said to be considering an overture in the form of a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei before the Iranian elections this summer. |
| Even so, a week ago Mr Obama extended sanctions against Iran for one year, saying it continued to pose a threat to US national security. | Even so, a week ago Mr Obama extended sanctions against Iran for one year, saying it continued to pose a threat to US national security. |
| The US fears Iran's uranium enrichment programme is a cover to build atomic weapons, a charge Iranian officials deny. | The US fears Iran's uranium enrichment programme is a cover to build atomic weapons, a charge Iranian officials deny. |