Ahmadinejad interested in chatting with Obama

February 10, 2009

Ahmadinejad interested in chatting with Obama

Per Al Jazeera, "President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Tehran is ready for a change in its relationship with Washington, a day after US President Barack Obama pledged to rethink US-Iran ties." Ahmadinejad added he is willing to talk with the U.S. leader personally. Al Jazeera also posted a video report on the announcement.

The founder of @BreakingNewsOn had the first tweet about Ahmadinejad's statement, citing the AP.

@mpoppel (Netherlands): AP: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he welcomes talks with US based on mutual respect

Washington Post foreign correspondent @Thomas_Erdbrink commented from the capital.

@Thomas_Erdbrink (Tehran): "Death to America!", crowds chanted as Ahmadinejad said Iran was ready to talk to America. People, make up your minds!!!

Iranian twitterers responded to the tweet.

@mahdi (Tehran): @Thomas_Erdbrink There is no political analysis power among most Iranian ppl. They just follow wht they hear, watch & read on state media.

@keyvan (Tehran): @Thomas_Erdbrink You know, ordinary people say what media and/or governments enforce them to say. Isn't it the case in the US as well?

@Thomas_Erdbrink later wrote:

@Thomas_Erdbrink (Tehran): @mahdi On the other hand: many in the crowds said they favored (better) relations between Iran and the US.

Here's a sample of reaction from the United States:

@ltfreedude (San Francisco, Calif.): Iran's Ahmadinejad ready for talks, 'true changes' with U.S. who is he to say this?

@nlw (Evanston, Ill.): Interested in the news about Iran asking for meeting with Obama

@KevinMercuri (New York, N.Y.): Intriguing that Iranian President Ahmadinejad officially requests a meeting w/ President Obama just as he learns who the Next Israeli PM is

A man in Indonesia told the New York Times that he supported Ahmadinejad's efforts.