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End interference, Ahmadinejad tells Obama

DUBAI: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has congratulated U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and expressed the hope that Washington would stop intervening in West Asian affairs during his presidency.

In a detailed response to Mr. Obama’s elevation, Mr. Ahmadinejad said nations around the world “want U.S. intervention to be limited to its [own] borders, especially in the Middle East [West Asia].

“It is highly expected to reverse the unfair attitude towards restoring the rights of the Palestinians, Iraqis and Afghans.”

The Iranian President added: “Other nations also expect war-oriented policies, occupation, bullying, contempt of nations and imposing discriminatory policies on them to be replaced by the ones advocating justice, respect for human rights, friendship and non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs.”

Ahead of his election, Mr. Obama had said he was open to direct talks to help defuse tensions with Tehran. In his response, Mr. Ahmadinejad said: “The great nation of Iran welcomes basic and fair changes in U.S. policies and conducts, especially in the region.”

Mr. Ahamdinejad’s conciliatory remarks assume importance in the wake of simmering tensions between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear programme. There has been a U.S. naval build up surrounding Iran, and influential circles in Israel, a key U.S. ally, have advocated war against Tehran.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has opposed Mr. Obama’s call for opening a dialogue with Iran.

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