Tone Change: After Decades of Harsh Rhetoric, US - Iran Relations Thaw

Iran's recently elected President has offered to oversee talks between the Syrian government and the opposition. Hassan Rouhani addressed the Western world in an editorial for the Washington Post - calling on countries to focus on the future and not past frosty relations. The apparent readiness of Iran's new leader to engage, has given hope for a thaw in relations with Washington - but that's not an easy goal to achieve. Let's take a look at the tensions between the two in the past decade or so. In light of Iran's current apparent change of tone, RT's Anissa Naouai takes a look at how responsive America is likely to be.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: New Sanctions 'Will Mean Iran US Relations Will Never Be Improved'
THE TELEGRAPH: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has warned that more UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme would not stop them but could permanently wreck its ties with the United States.

The United States and five other major powers are negotiating a fourth set of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment. They expect the resolution to go through within the next few weeks. >>> | Wednesday, May 05, 2010

No Thaw with US as Iran Marks Anniversary of 1979 Revolution
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

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback (US) Barnes & Noble >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Hardcover (US) Barnes & Noble >>>

US Pours Cold Water Over Hopes of Iran Deal
TIMES ONLINE: The White House warned Iran last night that military action is still one of its options despite the "hand of friendship" offered by President Obama.

Officials moved to cool fevered expectations - and assuage lingering European concerns - about plans to thaw a 30 year freeze in US relations.

Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, reiterated that any talks held with the Iranian leadership would not necessarily be with President Ahmadinejad and would involve careful preparations beforehand.

Asked if the use of force was still possible, he replied: "The President hasn't changed his viewpoint that he should preserve all his options." Mr Gibbs added that the US needed to address Iran's sponsorship of terrorism and its threats against Israel, as well as an "illicit nuclear programme". >>> Tom Baldwin in Washington | Friday, January 30, 2009

THE GUARDIAN: US Overtures Divide Iran's Policymakers

Iran's foreign minister said yesterday that Tehran would be "co-operative" in response to changes in US policy, following the revelation that President Barack Obama's team is drafting a landmark letter to the Islamic Republic aimed at thawing a three-decade freeze in relations.

Manouchehr Mottaki, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, hedged his response by saying that Obama would have to change Washington's policy in the Middle East, "not in saying but in practice". If that happened, he said, the new administration would definitely find "a cooperative approach and reaction" from the region, and from Iran in particular.

The remarks followed the Guardian's report on Thursday that Obama was formulating a conciliatory letter to Iran's leadership aimed at unfreezing relations between Washington and Tehran and clearing the way for direct talks for the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution. >>> Julian Borger and Robert Tait | Friday, January 30, 2009

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback (US) Barnes & Noble >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Hardcover (US) Barnes & Noble >>>