Washington: President Barack Obama told
Iranians in an online video message that the US wants more
educational and cultural exchanges, and lamented that Tehran's
leaders have "turned their backs" on good faith overtures in
the past to expand opportunities for their people.
State radio in Iran quickly accused the Americans of
"pursuing the same Iranophobic policy" as always.
In the second such video of his presidency directed at
Iran, Obama said the US offer of diplomatic dialogue still
stands, but that the Iranian government has chosen isolation.
He said the US believes in the dignity of every human being.
The White House released the video late Friday, timing
it, as it did last year, to coincide with Nowruz, a 12-day
holiday celebrating the arrival of spring and the beginning of
the new year on the Persian calendar. The video comes as the
United States has hit a rough patch in its relationships in
the region, particularly with Israel.
"The US believes in the dignity of every human being
and an international order that bends the arc of history in
the direction of justice -- a future where Iranians can
exercise their rights, to participate fully in the global
economy and enrich the world through educational and cultural
exchanges beyond Iran's borders," Obama said in the video,
which had Farsi subtitles.
There was no official reaction in Iran, and it was
difficult to gauge to what extent those inside the country
were able to see Obama's message. Iranian authorities have
blocked access to YouTube and many other Web sites that have
been used by the opposition movement there. Still, many
Iranians are able to bypass those controls with anti-filtering
software and other means.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, March 20, 2010, 22:35