Press TV - An Iranian official urges the US President-elect to distance himself from Washington's current stance towards Iran to implement his slogan.

Iran's Vice President Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei said in an interview with Japan's Kyodo News Agency that his country would welcome talks between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Barack Obama.

"Any such meeting must be held in an open manner and its contents made public," Rahim-Mashaei noted.

During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama has expressed willingness to begin direct negotiations with Iranian leaders to resolve the nuclear impasse.

Ahmadinejad, in a move that drew criticism at home, sent a congratulatory letter to the US President-elect, signaling his government's openness to reconciliation with the new administration in Washington.

"Mr Obama stands at a historically significant crossroads, but there are only two paths for him -- one which leads to good results through 'change' as promised by his slogan, the other with extremely grave consequences if he continues the same policies as previous administrations," Rahim-Mashaei said.

Washington severed its diplomatic relations with Tehran shortly after the Islamic Revolution replaced a US-allied monarchy with a democracy.

... Payvand News - 11/28/08 ... --