Clinton calls for "better understanding" between U.S., Iran

Source: Xinhua | 02-11-2009 08:14

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday called for effort to "develop a better understanding" between the United States and Iran.

Criticizing Iran's stand not to give up nuclear program, Clinton said that Tehran's insistence on the matter is "a very unfortunate course for them to pursue," noting "We still persist in our view that Iran should not obtain a nuclear weapon."

"And we hope that there will be opportunities in the future for us to develop a better understanding of one another and to work out a way of talking that would produce positive results for the people of Iran," Clinton told reporters at the State Department.

Clinton made the remarks after U.S. President Barack Obama renewed on Monday his call for direct talks between Washington and Tehran over tense bilateral relations.

In response to Obama's call, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a rally on Tuesday that "The Iranian nation is ready to hold talks but talks in a fair atmosphere with mutual respect."

"The new U.S. administration has announced that they want to produce changes. Iranian nation welcomes real changes, and it is quite clear that real changes must be fundamental and not tactical," he said.

Washington has long accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran rejects the U.S. charges, saying its nuclear program is a peaceful drive to generate electricity so it can export more oil and gas.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei