Iran says US image in Mideast won't change from speeches alone

Jun 4, 2009, 7:44 GMT

   Tehran - Iran on Thursday said speeches alone would not change the image of the United States in the Middle East.

   'Changes should be made in practice and not by making nice speeches to world Muslims,' Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.

   He was referring to Thursday's scheduled speech by US President Barack Obama to the Muslim world in Cairo.

   Khamenei, who has the final say on all state affairs in Iran, said that Middle East nations 'deeply hate' the United States for its policies in recent years, such as military attacks, political interference and discrimination.

   'The new US administration wants to change this image, but I'm telling them that this does not become feasible just by giving speeches,' he said at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the death of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the supreme leader of the 1979 Islamic revolution,.

   The ceremony was also attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his main challenger in the June 12 election, Mir-Hossein Moussavi.

   Both Ahmadinejad and Moussavi want to resume talks with the Obama administration but have called on the US president to prove his promised changes in practice.