Irans president expressed openness for talks with the United States but again dismissed demands to halt nuclear work the West fears is aimed at making bombs, in an interview with Germanys Der Spiegel news magazine.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also called for "fundamental changes" in Washingtons policies, echoing comments by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials.
"If the behaviour of the United States changes, we can expect to see important progress," he said in the interview posted on Der Spiegels website, referring to decades of mistrust between Tehran and Washington. The new US administration of President Barack Obama, in a reversal of George W. Bushs approach, has offered a "new beginning" of diplomatic engagement if the Islamic Republic "unclenches its fist".