TEHRAN, April 6 (UPI) -- The government in Tehran is monitoring closely the change rhetoric and the subsequent behavior from Washington, the Iranian parliamentary speaker said.
U.S. President Barack Obama had campaigned on a platform of change during his presidential bid. His administration has embraced sweeping rhetoric of change aimed at a variety of issues, from American economic behavior to U.S. foreign relations.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani told lawmakers the nation was closely monitoring the rhetoric of change to see if it transformed into action, the Fars News Agency reports.
He further lashed out at the "hegemonic and violent" culture perpetuated by what he described as Zionist and American colonialism.
Larijani went on to say that while U.S. officials espouse democratic and economic reform and a variety of human-rights issues, their actions have brought only disorder and tyranny.
He said the policy of change should manifest itself in real reforms, from the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan to finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered similar statements following a conciliatory message to the Iranian people by Obama on the occasion of the Iranian new year.
