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Obama promises new tack on Iran Obama promises new tack on Iran
(40 minutes later)
President-elect Barack Obama says the US will take a new approach to dealings with Iran under his leadership.President-elect Barack Obama says the US will take a new approach to dealings with Iran under his leadership.
Mr Obama said in a US TV interview screened on Sunday that "Iran is going to be one of our biggest challenges".Mr Obama said in a US TV interview screened on Sunday that "Iran is going to be one of our biggest challenges".
He said he was concerned about Iran's support for Lebanese Shia party Hezbollah and Tehran's nuclear enrichment programme.He said he was concerned about Iran's support for Lebanese Shia party Hezbollah and Tehran's nuclear enrichment programme.
Mr Obama also said he was planning to set up a special team to deal with conflict in the Middle East. In the wide-ranging interview, Mr Obama also said he planned a special team to deal with conflict in the Middle East.
In the interview, Mr Obama also said he was not ruling out prosecution for possible crimes committed by Bush administration officials. The president-elect said he was not ruling out prosecution for possible crimes committed by Bush administration officials.
And he repeated his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, but said it might not happen within his first 100 days in office. And he repeated his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, but suggested it might not happen within his first 100 days in office.
'Need for engagement''Need for engagement'
Mr Obama said his attorney general could investigate accusations Bush administration officials had abused their power.
He said: "He's going to be making some calls, but my general belief is that when it comes to national security, what we have to focus on is getting things right in the future, as opposed to looking at what we got wrong in the past."
The incoming president told ABC's This Week presenter George Stephanopoulos he would break away from President George W Bush's policy on Iran and seek a much broader approach with the Islamic state.The incoming president told ABC's This Week presenter George Stephanopoulos he would break away from President George W Bush's policy on Iran and seek a much broader approach with the Islamic state.
"We are going to have to take a new approach. And I've outlined my belief that engagement is the place to start," Mr Obama said."We are going to have to take a new approach. And I've outlined my belief that engagement is the place to start," Mr Obama said.
Iran's nuclear programme is causing concern in the West
Mr Obama, who won the US presidential election in November, takes office on 20 January.Mr Obama, who won the US presidential election in November, takes office on 20 January.
In the interview, he promised "a new emphasis on respect and a new emphasis on being willing to talk, but also a clarity about what our bottom lines are."In the interview, he promised "a new emphasis on respect and a new emphasis on being willing to talk, but also a clarity about what our bottom lines are."
He added he believed his administration would "move swiftly" in its new approach with Tehran.He added he believed his administration would "move swiftly" in its new approach with Tehran.
The Bush administration had accused Iran of developing nuclear technology in order to produce nuclear weapons, but Iran has insisted the processes will only be used to generate electricity.The Bush administration had accused Iran of developing nuclear technology in order to produce nuclear weapons, but Iran has insisted the processes will only be used to generate electricity.
"Iran is going to be one of our biggest challenges and as I said during the campaign we have a situation in which not only is Iran exporting terrorism through Hamas, through Hezbollah but they are pursuing a nuclear weapon that could potentially trigger a nuclear arms race," Mr Obama said.
Mr Obama also said a new team would begin work on a wider Middle East peace process when he began his presidency.Mr Obama also said a new team would begin work on a wider Middle East peace process when he began his presidency.
"What I am doing right now is putting together the team so that on 20 January, starting on day one, we have the best possible people who are going to be immediately engaged in the Middle East peace process as a whole," Mr Obama said."What I am doing right now is putting together the team so that on 20 January, starting on day one, we have the best possible people who are going to be immediately engaged in the Middle East peace process as a whole," Mr Obama said.