(CNSNews.com) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is advising President-elect Barack Obama that he should move forward with "fundamental change" – not just in foreign policy, but in U.S. domestic policy as well.
Friday’s Washington Post reprinted the letter, in which Ahmadinejad congratulates Obama on winning the Nov. 4 election.
The Iranian president then goes on to lecture the President-elect:
“People expect an immediate and clear response to the pressure for fundamental change in the American government's policies, both foreign and domestic…On the one hand, the American nation, which has spiritual inclinations, expects your government to focus its energy and will on serving the people; dealing with the current economic crisis; restoring the country's standing, morale and hope; eradicating poverty and discrimination; and renewing respect for individuals, their safety and their rights. It also expects policies that will strengthen the foundations of the family -- part of the teachings of the holy prophets, who are also revered in America.”
Ahmadinejad tells Obama the world expects him to end policies “based on warmongering, invasion, bullying, trickery, the humiliation of other countries by the imposition of biased and unfair requirements, and a diplomatic approach that has bred hatred for America's leaders and undermined respect for its people.”
Keep your interventions within U.S. borders, Ahmadinejad tells Obama.
He also calls for an end to “unjust actions of the past 60 years” in the Middle East. Such injustice should “give way to a policy encouraging full rights for all nations, especially the oppressed nations of Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Describing Iran as a “great civilization-building and justice-seeking nation,” Ahmadinejad says his country would welcome “fair and real changes” in the Middle East.
And finally, he asks God to grant “rulers and officials the ability to learn from the past and to use every chance to serve, to spread love and kindness, to eradicate oppression, to do justice and to follow the holy guidelines.”
As CNSNews.com reported on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has urged Obama to avoid any direct talks between the U.S. and Iran.
Obama’s willingness to open such talks could be perceived in the Middle East as “weakness,” she said.
According to his campaign Web site, “Barack Obama will pursue tough, direct diplomacy without preconditions to end the threat from Iran.
“Obama and (Sen. Joe) Biden will present the Iranian regime with a clear choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, they would offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, Obama and Biden will step up our economic pressure and political isolation.”