Obama reaches out to Iranians
2010-03-20 09:38
Washington - President Barack Obama on Saturday subtly shifted US rhetoric on Iran, pledging to ensure Iranians could access the internet without fear of censorship, and blaming Tehran for isolating itself.
A year after offering a "new beginning" to Iran, Obama used his annual Nowruz, New Year's message to keep the door to dialogue open, but reached out more to the Iranian populace at large rather than their leaders in Tehran.
"Even as we continue to have differences with the Iranian government, we will sustain our commitment to a more hopeful future for the Iranian people," Obama said, in excerpts of his message released by the White House.
The president repeated the now familiar line that Iran had failed to live up to its obligations to come clean on its nuclear programme, so should be held accountable by world powers now seeking a tougher sanctions regime.
The tone of the greeting was coloured by a year which saw Obama's offers of engagement with Iran over its nuclear ambitions largely spurned, and in which Iranian authorities cracked down on protestors following a disputed election.
Dissent
A US official said privately that Obama was still being careful not to pick sides in the political stand-off in Iran, though conceded the message reflected a subtle evolution of US rhetoric toward Washington's long-time foe.
Obama offered increased educational programmes to allow young Iranians to come to the US to study.
And he placed faith in the power of the internet, to trump efforts by the government in Tehran to stem dissent, and hinted at a more active US role to ensure that online communication could be maintained within Iran.
He promised US efforts to "ensure that Iranians can have access to the software and internet technology that will enable them to communicate with each other, and with the world, without fear of censorship".
Earlier this month, Washington decided to allow the export of web tools related to browsing and blogging to Iran in a bid to ensure Iranians could communicate without being blocked by the government.
Opposition supporters in Iran used social networking sites and services such as Twitter, Facebook and Google-owned YouTube in their communications efforts following the country's disputed presidential election.
During protests in Iran last June, the State Department took the unusual step of asking micro-blogging site Twitter to delay planned maintenance because of its use by Iranian opposition supporters.
Historical legacy
In the excerpts, the US leader referred to his offer of dialogue Iran.
"Over the course of the last year, it is the Iranian government that has chosen to isolate itself, and to choose a self-defeating focus on the past over a commitment to build a better future," Obama said.
"But our offer of comprehensive diplomatic contacts and dialogue stands."
Obama vowed to hold the Iranian government "accountable" because he said it had refused to live up to its obligations over its nuclear programme.
And he said that US policy was designed to bend "the arc of history in the direction of justice", touching on an important concept in Islam.
Obama linked the ultimate destiny of Iran's people with the historical legacy of the US, saying Washington wanted to encourage Iranians to eventually "enrich the world" with educational and cultural exchanges.
"That is the future that we seek. That is what America is for," Obama said, according to the excerpts.
Nuclear technology
The address came against a backdrop of US efforts to forge tough international sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.
It also came amid a diplomatic spat with US ally Israel, which views Iran's nuclear programme as a threat to its very existence.
The West accuses Iran of developing nuclear technology to produce atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
In some ways, Obama's address represented an answer to his own Nowruz address to Iran last year.
"You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right - but it comes with real responsibilities," Obama said last year.
This year, Obama appeared to conclude that Iran, at least from the US perspective, had rejected that choice, as his administration seeks to toughen sanctions against Tehran.