TEHRAN, Iran - Iran is ready for dialogue with the United States, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday, directly addressing the U.S. administration in his most measured remarks to America since President Barack Obama took office.
"The new U.S. government has announced that it wants to create change and follow the path of talks. It's very clear that true changes should be fundamental and not tactical," Ahmadinejad said during a rally in Tehran to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed shah of Iran.
"These talks should be held in a fair atmosphere in which there is mutual respect," he added, laying out a precondition for any discussions.
Ahmadinejad wrote several unanswered letters to Bush and congratulated Obama on his election victory. Still many Iranian officials are suspicious of renewed relations between the nations.
"If pro-American tendencies come to power in Iran, we have to say goodbye to everything. After all, anti-Americanism is among the main features of our Islamic state," said Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the Guardian Council, an assembly of 12 appointed clerics and jurists who have the power to vet laws and election candidates, in remarks 10 days ago.