Obama: Iran Diplomacy Possible Within Months

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Iran

(CBS)

At his prime time press conference tonight, President Obama said that "in the coming months, we will be looking for openings that can be created where we can start sitting across the table face to face" with Iran.

"There's been a lot of mistrust built up over the years, so it's not going to happen overnight," said the president.

He stressed, however, that the administration has deep concerns about Iranian policy, noting that the country's "actions over many years now have been unhelpful when it comes to promoting peace and prosperity."

President Obama cited Iran's support for Hezbollah and Hamas, its "bellicose" language toward Israel, and its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

Video:
Obama's Strategy For Iran

The president said the U.S. must use all of the tools at its disposal in dealing with Iran, and that "includes diplomacy."

He said Iran must understand that the U.S. finds Iranian actions such as funding of terrorist groups unacceptable.

But he added that "there's a possibility, at least, of a relationship of mutual respect and progress."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by libsnemesis February 10, 2009 5:35 AM EST: Yes, Comrade Obama, let us pause long enough for our friends the extremist Muslim Iranians (Persians) to purchase or develop a nuclear weapon. The we can feign disbelief when Israel is obliterated. I look forward to your emergency news conference, Comrade Obama.; Reply to this comment


by sabz12r February 10, 2009 3:29 AM EST: "You people are a bunch of uninspiring lazy a''''holes. You all make me sick. Hopefully the world will progress in spite of you.
And no, I''m not a "liberal".
Bunch of *** wierdos think you all need to join a team. *** idiots."

Posted by mortal3 at 12:14 AM : Feb 10, 2009

*********

You''re funny, mortal. You write about inspiration and progress, yet your anger and biases prevent you from typing even ten words without cursing.

Yep, you got smarts, mortal.

Word to the wise, bud: there will be no progress or inspiration so long as US Middle-East foreign policy is dictated by the lies and corruption of the past.

And the Middle East is where it is because of the "inspiration" and "progress" of people like you.

It''s time to give truth and justice a try in the Middle East.

Unless of course you have a problem with that too, mortal. Hmmm? What would you and the Zionists have to fear from truth and justice?; Reply to this comment


by smt451d February 10, 2009 3:01 AM EST: With Obama, everything''s "possible", years down the road. Then when we get to that point, it will be "possible" further down the road. Gonna be a long, long road of "possibilities".; Reply to this comment


by sabz12r February 10, 2009 2:55 AM EST: Obama is a unsophisticated, shameless hypocrit.

During the Presidential campaign Obama said, that during the 1980s, he followed all the latest news surrounding the collapse of apartheid South Africa. He also said Nelson Mandela is a hero. Nelson Mandela and his ANC were labelled terrorists for being forced to resort to extreme measures to rid South Africans of ruthless occupation and oppression.

Obama supported such truth back then. What happened Barack? You been in D.C. long enough now to be stewed?

Stop pointing America''s bloody finger at Iran and calling the Iranians troublemakers. The West is in no position to makes such asseritons.

Until Obama accepts and espouses that truth, his transparent attempt to continue with Bush''s Middle East manipulation is doomed to fail - to be wiped from the pages of time.; Reply to this comment


by ajmarine111 February 10, 2009 1:28 AM EST: Posted by Mcliar at 10:17 PM : Feb 09, 2009

Moderate Iranians are going to have to move their government from within for Iran to join the World Community again.

As long as Iran supports Hamas and Hezbulla (SP), it''s going to be hard to get anyone to listen to what they are trying to say.; Reply to this comment


by ajmarine111 February 10, 2009 12:45 AM EST: Moderate opinion in Iran, according to some US observers, has become concerned at the militant and uncompromising approach of the Ahmadinejad administration. They also claim the Iranian president%u2019s widespread economic failures have added to discontent. Now that former President Mohammad Khatami has announced he will run again this June, there is a chance that Obama will have a less strident Iranian leader to deal with in five months%u2019 time. It, therefore, might seem foolish to give Ahmadinejad the same belligerent Bush rhetoric for the Iranian president to push back against.

http://arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=119061&d=10&m=2&y=2009; Reply to this comment