THE GUARDIAN: Iran yesterday rejected the idea of improved relations with the US unless there is a sharp change of policy from President Barack Obama, as the country began celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
The intelligence minister, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejeie, denied a report that there had been secret contacts between Tehran and Washington about the contentious nuclear issue. "There have been no official negotiations with the Americans," he said, referring to a report from the US Pugwash Conferences, a non-governmental organisation, claiming that Obama advisers and Iranian officials had met in Europe several times.
Iran also denied that its foreign minister, Manuchehr Mottaki, would meet US officials at a conference in Munich which the US vice-president, Joe Biden, will be attending. Expectations are mounting for a positive response from Tehran to Obama's dramatic call for Iran to "unclench" its fist, amid reports that the new administration is considering further gestures.
But the 1979 anniversary celebrations are striking an inevitably militant tone, which makes it hard to sound "soft" on the traditional enemy of the revolution.
On Saturday morning bells and sirens marked the moment on 1 February 1979 when Ayatollah Khomeini landed back in Tehran after 14 years in exile. Ten days later, the shah's rule effectively collapsed. The anniversary was early because this is a leap year in the Iranian calendar. >>> Ian Black in Tehran | Monday, February 2, 2009
Listen to Guardian audio: Iranian Revolution: 'Posters, Bunting and Fairy Lights on Government Buildings': [Guardian] Middle East editor Ian Black reports from Tehran as celebrations mark the 30th anniversary of the Iranian revolution >>> | Monday, February 2, 2009
THE SPECTATOR: The Iranians Look Very Frightened
As was entirely predictable, the Iranian government has reacted with utter contempt to the exciting new approach of US President Obama towards resolving the crisis over Iran’s nuclear weapons programme:
US President Barack Obama's offer to talk to Iran shows that America's policy of ‘domination’ has failed, the government spokesman said on Saturday. ‘This request means Western ideology has become passive, that capitalist thought and the system of domination have failed,’ Gholam Hossein Elham was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency. ‘Negotiation is secondary, the main issue is that there is no way but for (the United States) to change,’ he added.>>> Melanie Phillips | Saturday, January 31, 2009
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