Iran Supreme leader Seems Unreceptive to Obama's Offer Update

by tikun | March 21, 2009 at 12:30 am

476 views | 22 Recommendations | 24 comments

This just came in from Debka. This is an intelligence web site based in the US.

Iran's supreme ruler to Obama: You change first

DEBKAfile Special Report

March 21, 2009, 2:06 PM (GMT+02:00)

A game with Tehran Barack Obama can't win

"We will watch and we will judge (the new U.S. administration) ... You change, our behavior will change," said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme ruler in the northeastern city of Mashhad March 21 to thousands of worshippers, two days after US president Barack Obama offered a new beginning of diplomatic engagement.

Tehran's flat rejection was broadcast by the highest authority in the land and the Shiite world to make its position crystal clear.

Spiritual ruler Khamenei said the United States was "hated in the world" and should stop interfering

in other countries' affairs. "We haven't seen any change," he said and went on to enumerate Iran's

grievances over 30 years.

"The US accuses Tehran of supporting terrorism," he said. "Its charge that Iran is seeking nuclear

weapons is a sign of US hostility." "Have you released Iranian assets?" Ali Khameini asked. "Have

you lifted oppressive sanctions? Have you given up your unconditional support for the Zionist

Statements by White House and US State Department spokesmen, Robert Gibbs and Robert

Wood, that after Obama's New Year message to the Iranian people there are

"many more [gestures]" to advance better relations with Iran, Friday, March 20, were seen in

Tehran as a sign of weakness and inexperience.

They gave the Iranian ruler the chance to kick the ball back to Washington to see what else the

administration had on offer before judging whether it was worth his while to pursue the exchange

further.

This is a game of Iranian Bazaar that Obama cannot win with goodwill gestures.

The US president needs results because Tehran's nuclear clock is ticking away, whereas

Iran wants only to buy time for building its nuclear arsenal in peace."

For the record this is a news story of Peres's message to the people of Iran.

President Shimon Peres issued an audio greeting to the Iranian people, urging them to shake off the rule of "an oppressive and fanatical regime" and return to relations of peace and harmony with Israel, which, he recalled, the two countries enjoyed when the Shah was in power, until 1979. He called on the "noble Iranian people" to eschew the rhetoric of hate and even offered a greeting for Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, in Persian.

Israel Radio, which operates a channel in Persian, aired the message, also conducting an interview with Peres where he recalled a visit to Iran in the 1970s and recounted his visits to Iranian military bases and praised the "gracious" demeanor of the Shah.

Iranian leaders are not particularly embracing US President Obama's outstretched hand. Maybe he will get the message that Iran may not be interested in peace.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday rejected an offer by U.S. President Barack Obama to open a new era in relations until Tehran could see real changes in U.S. policies.

"The new U.S. president sends us a Persian New Year greeting message, but in the same accuses us again to support terrorism and to be after nuclear weapons," the supreme leader said in a televised speech in the city of Mashad in northeastern Iran.

"He offers us his hand with a velvet glove under which, however, might be a cast-iron hand," Khamenei added.

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"We will not accept any offer for negotiations which goes together with force...we will see and if you - President Obama - really change, then we will change as well.

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tikun

at 01:13 on March 21st, 2009

This has been put up in the recent Israeli news cycle under bulletin. So lets see what happens over the next few hours.

Amaad

at 02:06 on March 21st, 2009

I have my doubts as well.. there was a "cautious welcome though.. remember? Ahmadin Najad also congradulated Obama on his election victory but Obama gave a cold shoulder at that time?

I guess behind the scenes both goverments must be working on the way to improvement of mutual relationship. Israel is the main issue, If Israel gives US a go ahead once its concerns are addressed then there will be more progress between the two countries.

without addressing the main Middle east cause things will stay where they are.

the only good I take away from this is there is no open hostility in the statements between each other.

tikun

at 04:29 on March 21st, 2009

I changed the headline, even though it came directly from one of the most respected liberal leaning newspapers in Israel. There has been to many nonsense articles written as news but you all know that they have been nothing but opinion pieces and not a word by any of you.. This is getting a bit childish and I am tired of all the innuendos regarding of Israeli sources.

djsblack

at 09:21 on March 21st, 2009

The Associated Press, supports Iran's rejection of Obama's outreach:

Iran's response to US sign of theocracy's mind-set

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Iranian leader's rebuff on Saturday to President Barack Obama's offer for dialogue was swift and sweeping: Words from Washington ring hollow without deep policy changes.

But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's response was more than just a dismissive slap at the outreach. It was a broad lesson in the mind-set of Iran's all-powerful theocracy and how it will dictate the pace and tone of any new steps by Obama to chip away at their nearly 30-year diplomatic freeze.

"It's the first stage of the bargaining in classic Iranian style: Be tough and play up your toughness," said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a professor of regional politics at United Arab Emirates University. "The Iranian leaders are not about concessions at this stage. It's still all about ideology from the Iranian side."

For Khamenei and his inner circle, that means appearing to stay true to the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the political narrative of rejecting the United States. Any quick gestures by the ruling clerics to mend ties with Washington could be perceived by hard-liners as a betrayal of the revolution.

tikun

at 04:22 on March 21st, 2009

This is from Ynetnes.

Iran's Supreme Leader seems unreceptive to dovish videotaped message by US President Obama to Iranian people

Reuters

Published:

03.21.09, 11:49 / Israel News

's supreme leader said on Saturday he saw no change in US policy towards the Islamic Republic, a day after US President Barack Obama issued an unprecedented videotaped appeal to the country.

tikun

at 04:35 on March 21st, 2009

Hi Esta,

What you put in the comment section from the latimes is truly opinion and nothing more. What The author wrote really stretched the comments made by President Peres as to some undermining conspiracy. Every year The President sends a holiday message to the people of Iran. There are Jews still living there under duress.

Paschen

at 04:48 on March 21st, 2009

Al-Jazeera reports and prints the whole response.

"Commenting on Obama's videotaped offer of a "new beginning" in relations between the two countries, Khamenei said Iran has yet to see any change in Washington's attitude towards it.

"They chant the slogan of change but no change is seen in practice. We haven't seen any change," he said."

djermano

at 04:45 on March 21st, 2009

Iran is right. Obama is speaking riddles instead of truth. He has not ended the war like he said he would...And seems to me if the US started to get rid of its nuclear weapons the rest of the world would too. Do you like people who smile and are friendly at you, as they have a pistol in your back? I think of Obama with the clenched fist. and the expert liar he has become.

Rev. Jermano

tikun

at 04:51 on March 21st, 2009

Thanks for your comments djermano,

But we all know that with out the US nuclear arsenal at this time the world most probably would have been destroyed from a giant mushroom cloud.

Paschen

at 04:58 on March 21st, 2009

Speculation and opinion Tikun. We do not know such thing.

tikun

at 04:55 on March 21st, 2009

Hi Paschen,

But all the news sources that I read had the entire message. But then again, there is always a caveat with Iran. Obama extended himself with the greeting and changed the course of American policy.The response came from the SUPREME authority in Iran. The head honcho himself.

Paschen

at 05:01 on March 21st, 2009

J.Post Is the news source you refer to? You can use that one when an Israeli official makes a statement but it is a questionable source wen Iran makes a statement.

tikun

at 05:02 on March 21st, 2009

No, a variety of sources jpost being just one. Google and you will get more then we have time to read. lol

Paschen

at 05:18 on March 21st, 2009

:) good. I am not certain what to make of it all my self at the moment.

tikun

at 05:10 on March 21st, 2009

Why? They are a recognized source of news. Often quoted globally. I do not think that the Guradian in the UK is exactly an unbiased source for anything to do with Israel and yet people here freely quote it to counter anything Israel may have to say.

tikun

at 05:12 on March 21st, 2009

Hi Cypresso,

I did not mean to imply that you are childish. you are just being responsible. But the first to brake the story was the Israeli newspapers that are constantly monitoring the Arab press.

djermano

at 05:15 on March 21st, 2009

The US created this madness....it will be the US to end it...by dismantling its nuclear arsenal and urge other countries to join the nuclear ban. Israel has a nuclear bomb....why? Iran does not have one yet. But Israel has had one for years......Who are they afraid of? The US?

Rev. Jermano

djsblack

at 09:25 on March 21st, 2009

There's zero evidence Israel has nuclear weapons--and even if it did, arguendo, it would need them to protect them from Arab and Islamic nations that want to "Wipe them off the Face of the Earth."

That very same nation--"The Islamic Republic"--of Iran.

tikun

at 05:24 on March 21st, 2009

I am personally not afraid of anyone in particular. But then again, Israel if it does have a bomb, has never threatened anyone with using it. I can't say that for everyone else in the region.