Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
My Profile
Top News
Reuters top ten news stories delivered to your inbox each day.
Subscribe
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
Your View
The Great Debate
Blogs
Weather
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
Your View
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Iran students say time for U.S. to change policy
Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:20am EST
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
By Zahra Hosseinian
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Nariman Mostafavi says many Iranian students no longer hold the fierce anti-American views that drove their predecessors to seize the U.S. embassy in 1979.
Now the student activist says it's time for Washington to change and consider new policies toward the Islamic Republic.
As Barack Obama moves into the White House promising more engagement with Iran's rulers while threatening tougher sanctions, the radicalism of the embassy hostage-takers has given way to cautious hope among many in Iran's universities.
"If Obama sticks to his promise of change, there will be hope for the establishment of ties," said Mostafavi, who advocates reform in the Islamic Republic.
But like others, he is wary of predicting a big U.S. shift and also says much will hinge on Iran's own election in June, when hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who often rails against the West, is expected to seek a second term.
"The election of Obama is only one factor," said Reza Sharifi, a member of Iran's main reformist student body. "Healing ties also greatly depends on who takes power in Iran."
Obama is likely to find Iran near the top of his foreign policy in-tray. Washington says Tehran wants to build a nuclear bomb. Iran, the world's fourth biggest oil producer, denies this and says its goal is building power plants to generate electricity.
George W. Bush led an aggressive drive to isolate the Islamic Republic but Tehran has shown no sign of halting its disputed nuclear work. Instead, its activities have gathered pace.
Obama has promised a different approach, emphasizing respect for the Iranian people and spelling out what Washington expects of its leaders. However, Obama's choice for secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, has not ruled out military action if needed.
For some students, now may be the time to end the isolation of their country, where "Death to America" resounds at rallies.
"America is a superpower. It is a mistake not to restore ties with America," said Minu Samadi, a 24-year-old art student. "The embassy seizure was necessary 30 years ago. Now it is necessary to restore relations."
Students helped spearhead the ousting of the U.S.-backed Shah in the 1979 revolution. Then in November that year they stormed the U.S. embassy and took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. That prompted Washington to cut diplomatic ties in 1980.
Mostafavi said there was now a different mood among students: "Since the revolution, students have changed. Those radical actions are no longer seen."
'FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE'
Debate in Iran about restoring ties has grown as politicians start maneuvering before Iran's presidential race. Continued...
View article on single page
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
My Web
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
U.S. gets weak marks on global relations: poll
Also on Reuters
Who makes the Obamas dance? Stevie Wonder!
Older Americans postpone retirement as economy sags
Video
Video: Japan to launch eco-eye in the sky
More International News
Palestinians reel at war's toll
| Video
India keeps pressure on Pakistan over Mumbai
South Korea's Lee names hardliner to North post
Russia and Ukraine aim to sign gas deal
| Video
Sudan opposition leader accused of Darfur rebel links
More International News...
Video
Barack Obama's daunting challenges
Play Video
More Video...
Related News
Economic woes may add to sanctions pressure on Iran
8:55am EST
SCENARIOS: How ties with Iran could resume under Obama
8:55am EST
Editor's Choice
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
Outrage at busty Virgin Mary models
Obama celebratory, solemn as he nears inauguration | Video
Will United States be forced to nationalize banks?
UK throws banks a lifeline as RBS posts record loss | Video
Man charged with threatening Obama on website
Obama faces big challenges with inaugural address
Palestinians reel at war's toll | Video
RBS shares slide to 23-year low on record loss
VIDEO: Hamas announces own ceasefire terms
Venezuela's Chavez says Obama has "stench" of Bush
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Stars come out for Obama concert
Hamas announces own ceasefire terms
CCTV captures U.S. plane splashdown
Europe gas deal goes ahead
Splashdown plane raised from river
Obama in triumphal train ride to DC
Kim Jong-il pictured on TV
Gaza devastated after onslaught
Japan's eco-eye in the sky
Israel plans Gaza ceasefire
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
the great debate
World Affairs:
In Gaza war, lions led by donkeys?
Bernd Debusmann
It's not often that a senior member of Washington's usually staid and cautious foreign policy establishment likens Israeli political leaders to donkeys and questions their competence. But the fighting in Gaza prompted Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies to do just that. Commentary
Blog: Reporting in Gaza: Striving for fairness
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Reuters in Second Life |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.