Obama for "creative diplomacy" to bring Iran on board

Iran had been "acting irresponsibly" by supporting Shiite militant groups in Iraq, Obama said in an interview with the New York Times published on Friday, emphasizing that Tehran's suspected nuclear weapons programme and its support for "terrorist activities" were serious concerns.

However, the Senator said Iran's support for militant groups in Iraq reflected its anxiety over the Bush administration's policies in the region, including talk of a possible American military strike on Iranian nuclear installations.

Executing a speedy timetable for the withdrawal of American combat troops and forging a new relationship with Iran would be a major element of a broad effort to stabilize Iraq, the Democrat, who is giving a stiff fight to fellow Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, said.

"We are willing to talk about certain assurances in the context of them showing some good faith," Obama told the Times.

"I think it is important for us to send a signal that we are not hell bent on regime change, just for the sake of regime change, but expect changes in behavior. And there are both carrots and there are sticks available to them for those changes in behavior," he said. - DDNEWS