Iran: US fails to act on promise
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that the United States failed to act on its promise to establish better ties with the Islamic Republic, Iran's satellite channel Press TV reported.
"The new (U.S.) administration and president claimed interest in just and fair relations; they wrote letters and sent messages... saying they are willing to normalize relations with the Islamic Republic, but in practice they did the opposite," Khamenei said in a New Year address to Iranians in the holy city of Mashhad.
The Iranian supreme leader also lashed out at the United States for supporting the unrest following Iran's presidential election in June 2009, saying the enemies had plans to start a "civil war" in the country.
"They tried very much to divide the people but they failed... this was a victory for the nation," Khamenei said. "Eight months after the election, they took the worst possible stance. The (U.S.) president called those rioters and saboteurs 'civil rights activists'," he added.
Khamenei said it was normal for Iran to have enemies as "it is supported by the nations around the world" and the United States, on the other hand, "is hated by the nations around the world for decades of aggression and invasion."
Khamenei's remarks came just one day after U.S. President Barack Obama said that his administration still seeks dialogue with Iran over its nuclear issue but the Iranian government has chosen isolation.
Obama made the remarks in a special video message in celebration of Nowruz, or "New Day," which marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the New Year for Iranians.
"We are working with the international community to hold the Iranian government accountable because they refuse to live up to their international obligations," Obama said in the message.
"But our offer of comprehensive diplomatic contacts and dialogue stands," Obama stressed.
Obama delivered a similar video message on the occasion of Nowruz last year in which he said his administration sought "the promise of a new beginning" in its relationship with Iran.
The United States has been accusing Tehran of attempting to build nuclear weapons. Tehran has rejected the accusation and insisted that the Islamic republic has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purpose.
Over the past few months, the Obama administration has pledged to pursue tough sanctions against Iran in a bid to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons.
