President's video message reaches out to Iranians

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama has used a video message for the Persian New Year to make a direct appeal to the Iranian people and their leaders, offering a “new day” in the relationship between Tehran and Washington and an end to decades of confrontation.

“In this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran’s leaders,” Mr Obama said.

“We have serious differences that have grown over time. My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community.”

Mr Obama has said his administration is willing to engage directly with Iran over its nuclear programme and other issues but he insisted in his message that such a process would not be advanced by threats. “We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect,” he said.

“You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right – but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilisation.

“And the measure of that greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and create.”

The US usually marks the Persian feast of Nowruz with statements from the president and secretary of state but yesterday’s video struck a warmer note as Mr Obama held out the prospect of a transformation in the relationship between Tehran and Washington.

“I know that this won’t be reached easily. There are those who insist that we be defined by our differences,” he said. “But let us remember the words that were written by the poet Saadi, so many years ago: ‘The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence.’

“With the coming of a new season, we’re reminded of this precious humanity that we all share. And we can once again call upon this spirit as we seek the promise of a new beginning.”

Israeli president Shimon Peres also sent a video message to the Iranian people yesterday but he adopted a more combative tone, blaming Iran’s leaders for the poor state of relations between their two countries. “Things in Iran are tough,” Mr Peres said. “There is great unemployment, corruption, a lot of drugs and a general discontent? You can’t feed your children enriched uranium, they need a real breakfast. It cannot be that the money is invested in enriched uranium and the children are told to remain a little hungry, a little ignorant.”

Tehran played down the significance of Mr Obama’s message, with a government spokesman saying that Iranians could not forget “the previous hostile and aggressive attitude” of the US.

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