by John Ruskin
At a Tehran press conference on March 10, 2008, an Iranian reporter asked Mohammad Ali Hosseini, vice minister of foreign affairs of Iran and spokesman of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which U.S. presidential candidate Iran will support.
Hosseini replied, "Both the American people and world nations have become tired of the war-mongering policies of the present U.S. administration."
Hosseini continued, "Change is definitely needed by the American public and other nations. Iran hopes the American presidential election will bring about change."
A report on the press conference, headlined "Iran not to support any U.S. presidential candidate: Hosseini," was issued by the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). IRNA is a division of Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
Hosseini's references to "change" at the press conference have been widely interpreted in Iran and the Persian Gulf region as a clear indication that the Tehran regime favors the nomination and election of Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama. Obama has called for U.S. talks with Iran aimed at stabilizing Iraq, and has stated his willingness to meet with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The central theme of the Obama campaign has been "change." The campaign's slogan is "Change We Can Believe In."
Observers in Tehran note that Hosseini has a reputation for choosing his words carefully. An Iranian analyst said, "Hosseini is considered an expert on American affairs. He would not have used the word 'change' unless it was his intention to signal that the Iranian regime prefers that the next U.S. president be Mr. Obama."
