Well, at least President Obama tried to reach out to Iran. Here is what Obama has gotten in response from Iran's President, Ali Khamenei:"As long as the U.S. government continues the same policies and directions of the previous 30 years, we will be the same nation of the past 30 years," Khamenei said. "The Iranian nation can't be deceived or threatened."Yes, how insulting for Barack Obama to reach out his hand respectfully to the people of Iran, who vote for president on June 12. According to Stratfor, that's what Obama's message was mainly about, a hope that former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi - around whom Iran's reformists are attempting to unite - will defeat hardline incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. If so, that might help explain Khamenei's unfriendly reaction, although I think it's broader than that, a negative reaction to Obama talking - however respectfully - about Iran needing to change its behavior from "terror or arms" and "the capacity to destroy" to "peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization."
Khamenei said there has been no change even in Obama's language compared to that of his predecessor.
"He (Obama) insulted the Islamic Republic of Iran from the first day. If you are right that change has come, where is that change? What is the sign of that change? Make it clear for us what has changed."
Unfortunately, it's looking like Khamenei may very well prefer sticking with the "terror or arms" and the "capacity to destroy." The only other possibility I can think of was that Khamenei's comments were primarily bluster for public consumption, while behind the scenes the reaction to Obama's Nowruz message has been more favorable. I sure hope so.
