Iran Cautiously Welcomes Obama's Unexpected Olive Branch

Iran was quick to welcome, albeit cautiously, U.S. President Barack Obama's unexpected olive branch to Tehran on the occasion of the Iranian New Year, but called for American action to back up the words of reconciliation.
Iranian Energy Minister Parviz Fattah said Friday that Obama's video message to his country was "positive," while a top adviser to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, "welcomed the wish of the president of the United States to put away past differences."

But both men stressed the need for action to show seriousness toward a new beginning in relations between the two countries, whose ties were severed shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution.

"The Iranian leaders will precisely assess this message," said Fattah on the sidelines of the World Water Forum in Istanbul. "We believe that in addition to messages, we need positive action from Mr. Obama as well as from his government. So in addition to talk, we need actions."

Ahmadinejad's press adviser, Javanfekr, indicated Iranian conditions for a rapprochement, insisting that the Obama administration "has to recognize its past mistakes and repair them as a way to put away the differences."

He told AFP news agency, "If Obama shows willingness to take action, the Iranian government will not show its back to him."

Obama, who had previously called for diplomacy to resolve the Western crisis with Iran over its nuclear program, nevertheless took Iran and the whole region by surprise early Friday with a direct message to the Iranian people and leadership offering "a new beginning."

The message, distributed to Iranian media outlets with Farsi subtitles and posted on the White House's official Web site, was released to coincide with the Iranian Nowruz, or New Year, that marks the arrival of spring.

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

He added that the United States "wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have rights, but it comes with real responsibilities."

"This process will not be advanced by threats. We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect."

Analysts say that for the Iranian leadership, the key to finally engaging in direct diplomacy was "mutual respect" – a concept that Tehran has for years wanted to hear, but also to see what that means on the ground.

They say that the U.S. president's use of the term "Islamic Republic" was a sign of a fresh recognition and acceptance of the Islamic nature of the Iranian regime. And his talk about threats could also mean threats by both sides, not just Iranian.

Commentators suggest that Obama's bold gesture will be closely studied in Tehran and predict Iran will reciprocate by starting to "unclench its fist," a term used by Obama at his inaugural speech, to whom he promised his administration would extend its hand in friendship.

They say that it will take time to overcome three decades of animosity between the two countries, which further deteriorated under U.S. President George W. Bush, who labeled Iran as part of an "axis of evil" along with Iraq and North Korea, and often threatened to use military force against it for its nuclear program. And since the Islamic revolution, Iranian officials have often described the United States as the "Great Satan."

However, for the rest of the Western world, and the Western-allied Arab region, Obama's unprecedented offer comes as a relief and an important first step toward defusing tensions in an already-turbulent region, where Iran's nuclear standoff has sent major jitters.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana said he hoped Obama's message "will open a new chapter in the relations with Tehran," describing it as "very constructive." He urged the Iranian leadership to "take good attention of what has been said by President Obama" and to "act intelligently" in response.

Western diplomats say an Iranian-U.S. rapprochement would be essential toward resolving Iran's nuclear dossier. The West fears that Iran plans to build nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists its program is designed only for peaceful, energy purposes.

While Obama's message did not go into specifics, he indicated that Iran's return to the international fold after years of isolation "cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions." He was clearly referring to Iran's backing of armed groups in Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, which the United States view as "terrorist" organizations but Tehran see as legitimate resistance against occupation.

However, Obama's words and tone, which Arab analysts say showed modesty and lacked the traditional U.S. condescension toward what it calls "rogue states," indicates that the new leadership in Washington is seeking a strategic shift in ties with Iran – despite Obama's decision earlier this month to extend sanctions against Tehran for another year on the grounds that it still poses a threat to U.S. national security.

Commentators say that Obama's message will likely be reciprocated by Iranian leaders through toning down their own rhetoric against the United States, especially if reports prove to be true that the U.S. State Department is considering sending a reconciliatory letter to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the ultimate say in Iranian policies.