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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Iranian leader demands US apology | Iranian leader demands US apology |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| Iran's president has responded to an overture by the new US president by demanding an apology for past US "crimes" committed against Iran. | Iran's president has responded to an overture by the new US president by demanding an apology for past US "crimes" committed against Iran. |
| The US "stood against the Iranian people in the past 60 years", Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during an address in the western region of Khermenshah. | The US "stood against the Iranian people in the past 60 years", Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during an address in the western region of Khermenshah. |
| "Those who speak of change must apologise to the Iranian people and try to repair their past crimes," he said. | "Those who speak of change must apologise to the Iranian people and try to repair their past crimes," he said. |
| The US president has offered to extend a hand if Iran "unclenched its fist". | The US president has offered to extend a hand if Iran "unclenched its fist". |
| President Barack Obama discussed the possibility of a softening of US policy towards Iran in an interview recorded with a Saudi-owned Arabic TV network on Monday. | President Barack Obama discussed the possibility of a softening of US policy towards Iran in an interview recorded with a Saudi-owned Arabic TV network on Monday. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad will, as expected, stand for re-election in June, close aide Aliakbar Javanfekr told Reuters news agency on Wednesday. | Mr Ahmadinejad will, as expected, stand for re-election in June, close aide Aliakbar Javanfekr told Reuters news agency on Wednesday. |
| Strong tirade | Strong tirade |
| America's crimes against Iran, the Iranian leader said in his televised speech, included support for the Iranian coup of 1953 and backing for Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. | America's crimes against Iran, the Iranian leader said in his televised speech, included support for the Iranian coup of 1953 and backing for Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. |
| God willing, he [George W Bush] has gone to hell | God willing, he [George W Bush] has gone to hell |
| Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad on the attack Timeline: US-Iran tiesStakes high for Obama on Iran | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad on the attack Timeline: US-Iran tiesStakes high for Obama on Iran |
| The Iranian president welcomed the possibility of US change, but said it should be "fundamental and effective" rather than just a change of tactics. | The Iranian president welcomed the possibility of US change, but said it should be "fundamental and effective" rather than just a change of tactics. |
| The remarks are the first Iranian comment on the US since Mr Obama took office eight days ago. | The remarks are the first Iranian comment on the US since Mr Obama took office eight days ago. |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran describes it as one of Mr Ahmadinejad's strongest tirades against the US. | The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran describes it as one of Mr Ahmadinejad's strongest tirades against the US. |
| Our correspondent says we may see twists and turns out of Iran as its leaders work out whether Mr Obama is offering real change and what they may offer in return. | Our correspondent says we may see twists and turns out of Iran as its leaders work out whether Mr Obama is offering real change and what they may offer in return. |
| While he was playing to the crowd, adds our correspondent, he could also be staking out his position ahead of Iran's presidential election in June. | While he was playing to the crowd, adds our correspondent, he could also be staking out his position ahead of Iran's presidential election in June. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad congratulated Mr Obama after his election in November but the message was criticised in Iran and received a cool response from Mr Obama. | Mr Ahmadinejad congratulated Mr Obama after his election in November but the message was criticised in Iran and received a cool response from Mr Obama. |
| 'Hell' for Bush | 'Hell' for Bush |
| Mr Ahmadinejad also attacked US support for Israel and its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. | Mr Ahmadinejad also attacked US support for Israel and its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
| He called on Mr Obama to withdraw US troops from their bases around the world and for America to "stop interfering in other people's affairs". | He called on Mr Obama to withdraw US troops from their bases around the world and for America to "stop interfering in other people's affairs". |
| Referring to Mr Obama's predecessor, George W Bush, he said he trusted that he had "gone to hell". | Referring to Mr Obama's predecessor, George W Bush, he said he trusted that he had "gone to hell". |
| Relations between Washington and Tehran reached new lows in recent years over attempts by the US and its allies in the United Nations to curtail Iran's nuclear programme over fears it is trying to build nuclear weapons. | Relations between Washington and Tehran reached new lows in recent years over attempts by the US and its allies in the United Nations to curtail Iran's nuclear programme over fears it is trying to build nuclear weapons. |
| Tehran says its programme is to develop civilian nuclear power only. | Tehran says its programme is to develop civilian nuclear power only. |
| The new US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said on Monday that she was looking forward to "vigorous diplomacy that includes direct diplomacy with Iran". | The new US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said on Monday that she was looking forward to "vigorous diplomacy that includes direct diplomacy with Iran". |
| The US broke off diplomatic ties with Iran in 1979, after students stormed the US embassy in Tehran after the Islamist revolution overthrew the US-backed Shah. | The US broke off diplomatic ties with Iran in 1979, after students stormed the US embassy in Tehran after the Islamist revolution overthrew the US-backed Shah. |