by Xinhua writer Yu Zhongwen, Abdel Meguid Kamal

The current U.S. administration is trying to seek a new vision of its relations with Iran, said an Egyptian analyst.

"(U.S. President Barack) Obama wants to open a new page of the bilateral ties with Iran for the benefit of the United States," Mohammed Sayed Abdel Moamn, a professor of Iranian study in Cairo, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Obama's recent video message to Iran is also part of a new vision of the U.S. administration to the Middle East, Moamn said, adding "if the United States wants to achieve its goal in the Middle East, it must give Iran some space to realize part of the Islamic republic' benefits."

In the video message on March 20 on the occasion of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, Obama said that "my administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties."

Moamn said Obama may decide to follow a new way to deal with Iran after he evaluated previous U.S. methods, which started with threatening and boycotting and ended with negative consequences.

Obama said, going further than previous statements, the United States would seek engagement instead of threats, and mutual respect, adding that it will not be advanced by "threats."

Iran welcomed Obama's video message for a "new beginning" of engagement with the Islamic Republic, but still urged Washington to take "concrete" action of change.

Commenting on Iran's reaction to Obama's message, Moamn said the reply of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is "positive."

In the past, Khamenei was extreme when talked about the United States, but this time he didn't talk negatively when he said Iran will wait for act not words, said the professor, noting "this is a turning point of Iran's policy."

"If Obama is serious about dialogue with Iran, he must take tangible measures," said Moamn, adding "there exists the possibility of dialogue between the two sides."

Khamenei's remark that "if you change your attitude, we will change ours" clearly indicates that the Iranian supreme leader still left the door open to better ties with the United States, said the Egyptian analyst.

About the disputed Iranian nuclear issue, Moamn believes that Iran will not give up its nuclear program easily but just pursue peaceful use of nuclear energy.

"The United States knows that it's a red line for Iran to stop its nuclear file," he said, adding "Iran will not stop its nuclear program."

At the same time, Moamn believes that the Iranian nuclear program will not be used for military purpose because the Iranians know that the United States will not allow that.

"Iran doesn't want to engage in military conflict against the United States," said Moamn, adding "peaceful nuclear programs are enough for Iran."

However, since the United States severed its ties with Iran in 1980, Washington has been trying to beef up its sanctions against Tehran for allegedly developing secretly nuclear weapons and for being involved in anti-U.S. activities, which were denied by Iran.

Source: Xinhua