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Khamenei Rebuffs Obama's Overture

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Los Angeles Times

Published: March 22, 2009

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's most powerful figure dismissed President Barack Obama's extraordinary Persian New Year gesture, insisting Saturday - in an apparent attempt to keep the political establishment unified in an anti-American posture - that the U.S. administration's actions must match its rhetoric before Iran would alter its foreign policy.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is Iran's highest spiritual, military and political authority, told supporters in his hometown of Mashhad that "changes in words" would not be enough to persuade Iran that the Obama administration was sincere.

"We do not have any record of the new U.S. president," he said in a live television broadcast. "We are observing, watching and judging. If you change, we will also change our behavior. If you do not change, we will be the same nation as 30 years ago."

As he spoke, Khamenei glanced cursorily at his notes, suggesting that his words were carefully considered. His remarks were the most detailed and authoritative response by any Iranian leader to several attempts by the Obama administration to reach out to the Islamic Republic.

Obama issued a 31/2-minute videotape early Friday morning congratulating Iranian people and officials on the occasion of the important holiday, acknowledging three decades of strained relations with America and offering a new beginning.

Khamenei's quick, pointed response to Obama was unusual, and appeared to be an attempt to swiftly silence any voices within Iran's divided political establishment that might be keen on responding genially to the New Year message.

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