Obama’s speech: A boost to moderates in Iran’s election?
Obama criticized Holocaust deniers. But Ayatollah Khamenei praised US effort at a "new image."
By Scott Peterson | Staff writer 06.04.09
TEHRAN, IRAN – President Barack Obama’s recognition that “no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust” will apply in Iran, where leaders have called for deeds from Washington – and not just words – to ease 30 years of hostility.
As Iranians prepare to vote in June 12 presidential elections, Mr. Obama’s pledge that America was “ready to move forward” with “courage, rectitude, and resolve” will be welcome in Tehran, despite a host of US concerns that include Iran’s nuclear program and opposition to the Israel-Palestine peace process.
“I think the leader has accepted the principle of US talks, but he does not want to get caught in a bind,” says a political analyst in Tehran, referring to Iran’s supreme religious leader Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei. “We all know it’s going to happen soon after the election.”
Obama made no mention of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group that Washington considers a terrorist organization. But he said “when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point” that could “lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.”
Obama said Holocaust deniers were “ignorant and hateful” — a clear criticism of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has questioned the World War II-era event and been challenged on it by his Iranian opponents.
“Moderates in Iran will be ecstatic with this — it will play well with [top opposition candidate Mir Hossein] Mousavi,” says the analyst. “The regime as a whole will look favorably [on Obama’s speech]. For us, the wall of mistrust is important, and this will be a first step. I think it will resonate very much in Saturday’s newspapers.”
There are no papers on Friday.
Obama’s speech came just hours after Ayatollah Khamenei made a speech on Thursday to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of the founder of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Khamenei said the US aim of presenting a “new image” to the Middle East was correct because these nations “hate the United States from the bottom of their hearts because they have seen violence, military intervention, and discrimination.”
Such a transformation would “not be achieved by talking, speeches, and slogans,” he said. Khamenei restated Iran’s position that it was not seeking nuclear weapons, and said US accusations to the contrary were “lies.”
“He likes Obama!” said one young professional upon hearing Khamenei talk. “Did he say anything negative about him? Or the US? It’s all about the Bush administration.”
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2. MB Conway | 06.04.09
I think you’re misreading a little. It’s not the journalist that was saying that Khamenei’s speech was about Bush; it was the reaction of one anonymous man-on-the-street in Iran. Take from it what you will. My interpretation is that while the Iranian government is focused on the last 30 years, the Iranian public is more than eager to turn the page & make a new start with the new administration.
3. Saint Michael Traveler, San Diego, Ca, USA | 06.04.09
Dear Scott Peterson: I request if you would identify the source for the following statement in your article:
“Khamenei said the US aim of presenting a “new image” to the Middle East was correct because these nations “hate the United States from the bottom of their hearts because they have seen violence, military intervention, and discrimination.”
4. Bello Olanrewaju Yusuf (Nigerian) | 06.05.09
President Obama’s speech was the most appropriate at a time the world is in chaos.It gives muslims hope that they can reconcile with Americans and the jews after years of hatred which was caused by the cruel and inhuman American leaders who
had the rare privilege of ruling the American people in the past. These leaders gave people false hopes, shed human blood and sowed the seed of discord among nations in an exaggerated attempt to protect the American interests as well as those of her allies. We hope it will not be one of the deceitful approaches of American leaders aimed at scoring cheap point in global issues. Thank you very much. I love you.
5. Kurdistani | 06.06.09
based on my experience, united state should engage in direct talk with Iran, no matter who is in power. actually there is some sort of freedom in Iran, that you can not see in other country. people practicing democracy and thinking democratically. even Iranian leaders believe in freedom and advance, but because some things happened in the past just some sort of mistrust is exist, that should over very soon.
if you go to the Iran and have look on people life, you can see how much is this country different with other neighborhoods’, and how much is close to western style life. just we have to respect their special type of life and politics. In reality people life and mentality totally different with what that going in political levels. Change needs time, but it will happen in Iran. You can not imagine how much is different this country, than that they wanted to establish 30 years ago. Just names are the same and the people who are on the stage, the audience (90% of Iranian people) has been totally changed.
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1. littleoleme | 06.04.09
Mr. Peterson,
You have only printed snippets of Khamenei’s speech. Just as President Obama never mentioned Hizbollah, Khamenei never mentioned Bush. Khamenei mentioned 30 years of hatred toward the U.S. That only goes to prove that the hatred was not started nor ended by the Bush Administration. Our president’s speech was conciliatory, but predictable, in my humble opinion. Khamenei said that “beautiful speeches” will not solve the problems. Why would he be repulsed by a speech on peace and unity in the world? We all know that our president is trying to influence the upcoming elections in Iran and Lebanon in order to move forward with moderate ME leaders. Iranian friends have said that Amadinejad is only Khamenei’s puppet. If Khamenei remains in power, this speech (pretty as it is) will do nothing toward promoting peace with Islam.