A leading Iranian cleric says his nation will continue to hate America
even under a Barack Obama presidency, unless Washington changes what he
called its "arrogant" nature.
During Friday prayers in Tehran,
Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said Mr. Obama would suffer the same destiny as
U.S. President George Bush, whom he described as hated by the world.
The
ayatollah, an ally of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Mr.
Obama's slogan of change was imposed by world conditions and the
resistance of the Iranian people.
Iran has sent mixed messages
on Mr. Obama's election victory, with some hardliners expressing
caution. But President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad sent a letter of
congratulations to the president-elect, the first time a leader of
revolutionary Iran has offered such a message.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who has final say on state matters, has yet to publicly comment on Mr. Obama's election victory.
