Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on the Obama administration to make fundamental changes to U.S. foreign policies.
Mr. Ahmadinejad told a rally in western Iran Wednesday that Washington must apologize for what he called 60 years of crimes against the Iranian people.
The Iranian president also says the United States must end its support of Israel and interference in the affairs of other countries. Mr. Ahmadinejad has frequently called for Israel's destruction.
U.S. President Barack Obama said in his first television interview this week that his administration will extend a hand to Iran if it "unclenches its fist," as he put it. Mr. Ahmadinejad says he welcomes change in U.S. policy, but the change must be fundamental.
Mr. Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, ruled out a general dialogue with Tehran due to Iran's defiance of international demands that it stop its controversial nuclear program.
Washington and its allies have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian energy program, a charge Tehran denies.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
