Obama Offer Is Denounced by Ayatollah- Iran's supreme leader says U.S. fails to act on promise for better ties-U.S. actions contrary to desire for better ties: Iran

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addresses the nation on the occasion of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, in Tehran March 20, 2010.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, sharply denounced the United States on Sunday, accusing it of plotting to overthrow the clerical leadership in a chilly response to an overture by President Obama for better cultural ties.

Ayatollah Khamenei did not outright reject Mr. Obama’s offer, saying Iran would keep an eye on Washington’s intentions. But he said that so far Washington’s offers of engagement had been a deception.

In his message, released to coincide with the Iranian new year, Nowruz, Mr. Obama told the Iranian people that Americans want better cultural exchanges with Iran. He also criticized the Iranian leadership for “turning its back” on American overtures.

Ayatollah Khamenei, who has the final say on all political matters in Iran, lashed back in a nationally televised address in an annual provincial visit to his hometown, Mashhad, telling the Americans, “You cannot speak about peace and friendship while plotting to hit Iran.”

In particular, he denounced the American criticism of Iran’s own postelection crackdown. Iran has arrested thousands because of protests over President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s lopsided victory in June, which the opposition says is fraudulent.

The ayatollah said that in response to past American overtures, “We said that if they are extending a metal hand inside a velvet glove, we won’t accept. Unfortunately, what we had guessed took place.”

American support for the opposition proved that Mr. Obama’s claims to seek dialogue were a deception, the ayatollah said.

“The new U.S. administration said they are willing to normalize relations. But unfortunately in practice they did the opposite,” Ayatollah Khamenei told a crowd in Mashhad, who several times broke into chants of “death to America” and “death to Obama.”

In his message, Mr. Obama said that the American offer of diplomatic dialogue still stands, but that the Iranian government had chosen isolation.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that the United States failed to act on its promise to establish better ties with the Islamic Republic, Iran's satellite channel Press TV reported.

"The new (U.S.) administration and president claimed interest in just and fair relations; they wrote letters and sent messages... saying they are willing to normalize relations with the Islamic Republic, but in practice they did the opposite," Khamenei said in a New Year address to Iranians in the holy city of Mashhad.

The Iranian supreme leader also lashed out at the United States for supporting the unrest following Iran's presidential election in June 2009, saying the enemies had plans to start a "civil war" in the country.

"They tried very much to divide the people but they failed... this was a victory for the nation," Khamenei said. "Eight months after the election, they took the worst possible stance. The (U.S.) president called those rioters and saboteurs 'civil rights activists'," he added.

Khamenei said it was normal for Iran to have enemies as "it is supported by the nations around the world" and the United States, on the other hand, "is hated by the nations around the world for decades of aggression and invasion."

Khamenei's remarks came just one day after U.S. President Barack Obama said that his administration still seeks dialogue with Iran over its nuclear issue but the Iranian government has chosen isolation.

Obama made the remarks in a special video message in celebration of Nowruz, or "New Day," which marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the New Year for Iranians.

"We are working with the international community to hold the Iranian government accountable because they refuse to live up to their international obligations," Obama said in the message.

"But our offer of comprehensive diplomatic contacts and dialogue stands," Obama stressed.

Obama delivered a similar video message on the occasion of Nowruz last year in which he said his administration sought "the promise of a new beginning" in its relationship with Iran.

The United States has been accusing Tehran of attempting to build nuclear weapons. Tehran has rejected the accusation and insisted that the Islamic republic has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purpose.

Over the past few months, the Obama administration has pledged to pursue tough sanctions against Iran in a bid to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons.