Iran calls on US to show pragramtic behavior

Washington should pursue pragmatic polices towards Iran, an Iranian spokeswoman said, referring to US President Barack Obama's change of tone on Iran after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "We still expect the US officials to base their behavior towards the Islamic Republic of Iran on pragmatic policies and show respect in their behavior towards the Iranian nation," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said in her weekly press conference in Tehran on Tuesday. Stressing that the US is now facing a big test of option to choose between dependence and independence in its foreign policy towards Iran, she said the US behavior will persuade the Iranian side to study the possibility of further interactions to move towards a constructive approach. Afkham referred to the pressures exerted on the US administration by different groups, including the Zionist lobbies and Israeli officials, to make it stop rapprochement with Tehran, and said, "Of course, the pressures of the Zionist regime will continue because it is an isolated regime angry at the acceptance and acknowledgement of the policies of (Iran's) moderation government at the international level and the regime will go on exerting its pressures in different arenas." Her remarks came after the US officials changed their soft tone towards Iran to warmongering after Obama met Netanyahu yesterday. Addressing the UN General Assembly meeting last week, Obama said the US wanted to resolve the nuclear issue peacefully, and added, "We are not seeking regime change, and we respect the right of the Iranian people to access peaceful nuclear energy." "Instead, we insist that the Iranian government meet its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and UN Security Council resolutions," he added. But after meeting Netanyahu, the US president said, "We take no options off the table, including military options."