Obama reaches out to Iranian civilians

President Barack Obama yesterday subtly shifted US rhetoric on Iran, pledging to ensure Iranians could access the Internet without fear of censorship, and blaming Tehran for isolating itself.

A year after offering a "new beginning" to Iran, Obama used his annual Nowruz, New Year's message to keep the door to dialogue open, but reached out more to the Iranian populace at large rather than their leaders in Tehran.

"Even as we continue to have differences with the Iranian government, we will sustain our commitment to a more hopeful future for the Iranian people," Obama said in his message released by the White House.

The president repeated the now familiar line that Iran had failed to live up to its obligations to come clean on its nuclear programme, so should be held accountable by world powers now seeking a tougher sanctions regime.

The tone of the greeting was coloured by a year that saw Obama's offers of engagement with Iran over its nuclear ambitions largely spurned, and in which Iranian authorities cracked down on protesters following a disputed election.

A US official said privately that Obama was still being careful not to take sides in the political standoff in Iran, though conceded the message reflected a subtle evolution of US rhetoric towards Washington's long-time foe.

Obama offered increased educational programmes to allow young Iranians to come to the US to study.

And he placed faith in the power of the internet, to trump efforts by the government in Tehran to stem dissent, and hinted at a more active US role to ensure that online communication could be maintained within Iran.

He promised US efforts to "ensure that Iranians can have access to the software and internet technology that will enable them to communicate with each other, and with the world, without fear of censorship."

Earlier this month, Washington decided to allow the export of web tools related to browsing and blogging to Iran in a bid to ensure Iranians could communicate without being blocked by the government.

Opposition supporters in Iran used social networking sites and services such as Twitter, Facebook and Google-owned Youtube in their communications efforts following the country's disputed presidential election.

During protests in Iran last June, the State Department took the unusual step of asking micro-blogging site Twitter to delay planned maintenance because of its use by Iranian opposition supporters.

In the excerpts, the US leader referred to his offer of dialogue Iran.

"Over the course of the last year, it is the Iranian government that has chosen to isolate itself, and to choose a self-defeating focus on the past over a commitment to build a better future," Obama said.

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