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Iran Reacts With Caution to Obama's Happy Nowruz Video Message
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by Tina Kells | March 20, 2009 at 12:18 pm
376 views | 24 Recommendations | 7 comments
In what is clearly a campaign by President Obama to mend decades of damaged fences between the US and some long term opponents the White House issued a video message to Iran on the first day of the Zoroastrian new year festival of Nowruz.
Learn more about Obama's Nowruz address.
The reaction by Iran was cooly cautious but not hostile. Iranian leaders warned the US that it would take more than one small gesture of friendship to undo decades of damage between the two countries. However, the video message from Obama was seen as a welcome olive branch.
Obama released the video to coincide with the major Iranian festival of Nowruz, a 12-day holiday that marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new year in Iran. In the video, which has Farsi subtitles, Obama said the U.S. is prepared to end the strained relations if Tehran tones down its combative rhetoric.
But in the first government reaction to the video, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's press adviser said "minor changes will not end the differences" between Tehran and Washington.
"Obama has talked of change but has taken no practical measures to address America's past mistakes in Iran. If Mr. Obama takes concrete actions and makes fundamental changes in U.S. foreign policy toward other nations including Iran, the Iranian government and people will not turn their back on him," Ali Akbar Javanfekr told the Iranian state-run English-language Press TV satellite station.
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Tina Kells
Vancouver, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (7)
at 12:41 on March 20th, 2009
This is just another attemp by the US to overthrow Iran just like they overthrew Saddam and the Iranian goverment know better. I think this is the start of a new war and i dont see any peace at all, because Obama is just a puppet and is doing what the elite ask him to do.
at 12:52 on March 20th, 2009
I hope Obama removes the trade embargo and eases the restrictions on Iran.. actions should follow this good words in the speach.
always a treat to hear this man.. god bless him
at 12:56 on March 20th, 2009
Tina,
Why in the world is this piece not marked as opinion? Clearly, you've injected your personal opinion in place of objectivity in two places:
Inquiring minds want to know.
at 14:20 on March 20th, 2009
it was a good post nonetheless.. why does it matter if it is not marked as opinion? will it cause another global meltdown. joke aside comment added by Tina are concise and balanced and I dont see any problem with that if it is not makred as opinion
at 15:49 on March 20th, 2009
Good follow-up on your previous news piece. Thanks, Tina.
It will be interesting to see how young Iranians will respond to this message, in the long run. Diplomatic relation needs a partnership and the process will take time.
at 00:41 on March 21st, 2009
Young Iranians seemed more concerned with the death of a young Iranian blogger on the eve of Norooz. http://www.iraniansblogs.com/
at 17:11 on March 20th, 2009
With conditions in the middle east as they are, any sort of attempt to normalize relations with Iran must be welcome. As long as Iran is set on the destruction of Israel it will be difficult to accomplish. Surely it won.t hurt to sit down and talk and see if a some sort of a civil compromise is possible.
at 20:14 on March 20th, 2009
Iran has declared it will detroy Israel. Obama is now viewed as a sissy by the macho Islamic politico's.Iran will lie and be believed by the glassy-eyed naieve Obama who is a closet Muslim apeaser.Israel isn't as retarded. I predict a major strike. They 4 one haven't forgotten the slaughter of WW2 at the hand's of Jew haters. The end of this world is soon!!!!!!!