Iran, U.S. ready for talks
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he would welcome talks with the U.S. as long as they were based on "mutual respect".
Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran, he said Iran would welcome change from the U.S. as long as it was "fundamental".
Mr Ahmadinejad has previously said the U.S. must apologize for past "crimes" against Iran. "The world does not want the dark era of George Bush to be repeated," he said.
The two nations cut ties in 1979 after the U.S.-backed Shah was overthrown.
"The new U.S. administration has announced that they want to produce change and pursue the course of dialogue," Mr Ahmadinejad said at a rally in central Tehran attended by tens of thousands of people.
"It is quite clear that real change must be fundamental and not tactical. It is clear the Iranian nation welcomes real changes and is ready for dialogue in a climate of equality and mutual respect."
Mr Ahmadinejad's remarks come a day after U.S. President Barack Obama said he was looking for "openings that can be created where we can start sitting across the table face-to-face".
"I think there's the possibility, at least, of a relationship of mutual respect and progress," Mr. Obama said, but "it's time now for Iran to send some signals that it wants to act differently."
It was the latest in a series of positive remarks he has made about the possibility of direct U.S.-Iranian talks, BBC reports.
Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran, he said Iran would welcome change from the U.S. as long as it was "fundamental".
Mr Ahmadinejad has previously said the U.S. must apologize for past "crimes" against Iran. "The world does not want the dark era of George Bush to be repeated," he said.
The two nations cut ties in 1979 after the U.S.-backed Shah was overthrown.
"The new U.S. administration has announced that they want to produce change and pursue the course of dialogue," Mr Ahmadinejad said at a rally in central Tehran attended by tens of thousands of people.
"It is quite clear that real change must be fundamental and not tactical. It is clear the Iranian nation welcomes real changes and is ready for dialogue in a climate of equality and mutual respect."
Mr Ahmadinejad's remarks come a day after U.S. President Barack Obama said he was looking for "openings that can be created where we can start sitting across the table face-to-face".
"I think there's the possibility, at least, of a relationship of mutual respect and progress," Mr. Obama said, but "it's time now for Iran to send some signals that it wants to act differently."
It was the latest in a series of positive remarks he has made about the possibility of direct U.S.-Iranian talks, BBC reports.
