Iran criticised Barack Obama for the first time on Saturday, with the country’s parliament speaker saying the world doesn’t need cosmetic changes in American foreign policy but fundamental ones.
The criticism followed Obama’s remarks in Chicago on Friday that it was “unacceptable” for Tehran to develop nuclear weapons and that he would mount an international effort to prevent it. Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Obama was going in the wrong direction with such comments.
“Obama can understand that strategic changes in (American)policy are required, not just cosmetic changes,” Larijani told state television. Iranians initially welcomed Obama’s victory in the US presidential elections as a triumph over the unpopular policies of President George W Bush.
Asked about Iran at his first news conference on Friday, Obama said he will move deliberately on how to respond to Iran and what the response might be, but that he won’t do it in a “knee-jerk fashion.”
“This is a step in the wrong direction,” said Larijani. “If Americans want to change their situation in the region, they need to send good signals.” Meanwhile, Iran’s state radio said that Obama’s call on Friday on international pressure to prevent the Persian country from developing nuclear arms was a mere replay of Bush’s hard-line stance toward Tehran.
The radio said the call will cast doubt and disappoint Iranian expectations of changes in US foreign policy with the new administration.