Iran calls on Washington to change

TEHRAN, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Establishing a formal relationship with the United States is not possible until Washington makes good on its promises to change, Iranian officials said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said it was time for concrete measures to come from Washington to support the rhetoric of change embraced by U.S. President Barack Obama, state-funded broadcaster Press TV reports.

"We have reviewed the verbalized U.S. overtures, but everybody understands that practical steps should be taken," the foreign minister said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for his part, blasted Washington's continued support for Israel. Ahmadinejad said pursuing a foreign policy that is based on friendship with Israel ran counter to plans for Middle East peace.

Obama "should choose between supporting the Zionist regime or friendship with the (Middle East) region's nations because these two are not compatible," said Ahmadinejad.

The Iranian president's statements follow earlier claims that the Western financial system had run its course.

During a speech before a summit for the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Istanbul, Ahmadinejad heralded the dawn of a new era as the Western financial system deals with the recession.

"The thought and system of capitalism have come to an end so that a change and transformation is a must," he said.