CNN

Obama is not are President yet. How do you blast a man who has done nothing?

What do you know. At least people outside of this country aren't afraid to point out that 'change' is all about race. It's been about race from the beginning. 52% of Americans have been fooled.

Iran was hoping to be left alone now that Barack Obama was elected. President Elect Obama has made it clear that Iran's nuclear program is unacceptable and now the Iranian govt is crying. Boo hoo hoo! Obama and the world community must come down on Iran and make them understand they must seize their program, period end of story.

I think Iran has the right to have nuclear program like all other countries around the world. I voted for obama because I believed he is going to bring changes but obviously he is going to do the same thing, it was all talk to be elected. it is sad, I regret the vote.

Agree with the Iranian foreign minister 100%.

Obama's rhetoric of change must be in conjunction with a willingness to at least try things that were different by the neo-con hijacked Bush administration.

I despise how the pro-Israeli lobby has a stranglehold on US politicians that they pander to AIPAC's every whims lest they "lose out" on Jewish votes in Florida.

Is it then any wonder Obama's first action after becoming the Democratic party nominee, who ran to the left of Hillary on Iran and other foreign policy initiatives, was to rush off to AIPAC to swore allegiance to the "Safety and sacrosant security" of Israel?

THANK THE US FOREIGN POLICIES FOR THIS. . .

AMERICA IS FIGHTING 2 WARS IN THE REGION, BOTH SIDES OF IRAN!

SHOULD WE BE SUPRISED . . . IRAN SEEKING A DEFENSE! ! !

It is big shame for America that whoever the president is, he should prove himself ASAP to the Israelis. Selecting Emanuel as the chief of staff, Obama began to show how much he is devoted to the Israeli principles and now he starts the old game of traditional bad guy. To have an enemy, Iran is the easiest choice. To me as an Obama supporter, falling in the oldfashion politics does not sound CHANGE! I hoped new administration at least checks the facts first and then jump into the Bush legacy. It is simple and also dissappointing that Obama started to demonize Ahmadinejad just to have an enemy and an excuse to sell missiles to the Middle Eastern American allies. Does it really mean that change we did believe?!!!

obama is right, nuclear weapons in the hands of iran are unacceptable.

What did Iran think was going to happen?

We were all of a sudden going to let Iran do whatever they wanted? You said you want to wipe a country(Israel) off the face of the earth and you think we are going to be buddy buddy with you?

Just because Obama isn't George W. Bush doesn't mean you are going to get to do whatever you want. Iran is not only a threat to Israel but to the world and should be treated very carefully. Which is exactly what Obama is going to do, treat them carefully and thoughtfully, no knee jerk reactions.

I thought Ahmadinijad congratulated Obama on his victory? A sentiment that has not come out of that country since the days of the Shah. I was taken aback by this gesture. Obama cannot afford to be charmed by this man or any of his officials. Ahmadinijad hates our system of democracy and everything about it that we cherish, and often take for granted.
He predicts the approaching demise of the American empire (and Israel) as if it were his highest hope.

We don't need to demonize; rather, we need to approach Iran with dignified statesmanship, and caution.

So he's going to continue the same tactic/policy of trying to prevent Iran from pursuing nuclear energy/technology, even though it's in their legal right to do so?

What a change.

So Bush handles this by just refusing to let them do it, but Obama might talk to them and personally tell them they can't do it? hahaha, if this is how things are going to be for the next 4 years then it doesn't sound like we're going to be getting a big difference.

What happened to no preconditions?

Change you can believe in.

If US can have nuclear weapons then the rest of the world could have the same thing too. To liberalize the world, all man, countries should have the same right. however no one should misuse these weapons.

I think Iran has to understand that Obama would still work for the reasons for this nation first then for the rest of the world.

Shirzad,

The very first sentence of this article is such a misrepresentation that your credentials as a journalist should be revoked. Your sentence implicates Iran's parliamentary speaker's criticism of President Obama's statement as an admittance by the Islamic Republic of developing a nuclear weapon.

I'll leave it to you and your readers to imagine the consequences of such an admittance.

I do believe Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, I also believe it is in our best interests to prevent that from happening.

My issue is with your careless journalism. Please rectify the article.

PS Why don't you put Ali Larijani's picture instead of Ahmadinejad's? This article has everything to do with Larijani's statements...

He should have stated that he is not in the office till January 20 and will leave at accepting the congratulations for his election. He, in effect, supported the current president's policy while there is no need for it – there can be only one president at a time. This would leave a door open for any choices he makes as he enters the president's office.

I love you, CNN...but I don't like what seems to be CNN giving the Irananian government a platform for their propaganda to the world. The American people are in a very tough transition right now. The last thing we need is to be infused with Iranian propaganda, when they have been identified as a threat to American security. Report about what's going on, but don't give their propaganda a wide-open platform to speak against our President. I respect your job as journalists, but we are AMERICANS first! I ask that you please post my comments....it is only fair that someone be allowed to speak out against the Iranian agenda.

it is unacceptable,an iran should know change also applies to them as well.why do you need weapons if you seek peace??

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE PRESIDENT OBAMA!

Why he had said that is because their missile would be aimed toward the Israeli Goverment. or the Iraqi Government. That is common sense. He needs to sit down and with caution to talk to radical leaders.

Lets finally live in some peace....

Ooops, there is somebody who doesn't love Obama...better cover that up liberal media!

It's a poison that should be limited. If not applied through careful judgement, we will all breathe ACID. Die from DNA degenerations. So no, because we love you and we love ourselves. You cannot have NUKES. So STOP asking for it!!

Iran, we love you. Ask for anything, but dont ask for that POISON.

That whole Middle East area, including Iran, should not possess NUKES. First and foremost, the regions are too unstable. It's like giving a kid a GUN. Based on how he feels for the day, he may or may not shoot you.

What did they think? We're just going to let them loose and build up nukes while downing Isreal. They need to look internally as does Cuba for change that what the US has done.

Althought I am a strong Reppublican I certainly agree with Obama in his idea to prevent Iran from developing nucler arms. He is getting off to a good start by protecting our country, America and it's peoples.

The Iranian leadership is right in ONE way, we(U.S.A) are no longer willing to tolerate religious fanatics here or abroad –so they should get with program and try to become a cooperative player. Sticking to the religious nazi state system they currently subscribe to and developing Nuke weapons to boot to will only bring THEM grief and international disdain.

Good -

These Iranian comments will only serve to make President elect Obama more popular here at home and abroad.

If Iranians believe in the promise that Obama brings ... for a more universal view of the world ... they will stand down on their nuclear ambitions.

Their shtick used to be about those "blue-eyed devils" and their holier-than-thou imperalist ambitions. Those same slights against America don't work as well worldwide, or even in the slums of Teheran, against US President elect Barack Hussien Obama. The world has newfound confidence that the American way is the right way. That anybody can make it here.

Iran you are not America's military or economic equivalent ... so don't pick the fight. Your hope against us was a moral, ethical, fairness war. Obama is moral, ethical, just & fair but he is not a soft Democratic wimp.

Don't push this brother ... he won't go for it.

We will not accept a nuclear Iran, we should eliminate these sites immediately.

Ahmadinejad should have known that the United States will never be on his side no matter who is president. I hope someone takes him out.

You know, Obama is elected by Americans, so his role is to solve American problems first, and he's not supposed to side with any other countries. So whenever has Iran ever thought of America?

Why do we think we can tell Iran what to do? The politicians are supposed to protect America. We are being destroyed by illegal immigration and we tell other countries what to do. Israel can handle themselves, they are very good at military defense. We're broke and we have no business over there, it doesn't threaten our national security. It threatens our national security when we are over there telling everybody what to do. They hate when we think we can just come in and start demanding who does what.

... I wouldn't mind Obama sending the Iranian president a 'thank you note' in response to the congratulatory note. It is a civilized act and will setup a good example ...

I hope President Obama doesn't get off track by putting his war footing ahead of his domestic policy agenda. Barack, my whole family voted for you. Don't go down the path of the Bush Doctrine. America and you have come too far to get caught up in preemptive strikes against Iran. If Iran plans on using nukes, then they will pay a very heavy price – the full force of the U.S. military. Iran knows if it ever launched a nuke at Israel or Iraq, they would be utterly destroyed. Deal with it at that point. Besides, if Iran's adversaries in the region understand that you will not be a part of the Bush Doctrine, then they will have no choice but to deal with Iran on their own terms when they choose to do so.

Just because Obama is willing to hear you out doesn't mean that everything is peachy between Iran and the rest of the world now. Iran having a nuclear weapon is unacceptable, and it will always be unacceptable. Obama has been saying this from the beginning. If Iran didn't like, they should've complained a long time ago. Otherwise, they're just trying to see how far they can push President-elect Obama. If they're not careful, they'll end up like the McCain campaign and destroy themselves.

Looks like Ahmadinejad has lots to say about the "change" he expects...

WHY DO WE GIVETHAT IDOIT FROM IRAN SO MUCH COVER

i have news for you iran! barack has said this all along. do not expect a free ride. change in america does not mean your support for terrorists will come without more costs to you.

A nuclear Iran is unacceptable.
Obama is right in saying what he said.

Our special forces would like to have a conversation with him

Obama is making the world happy already.

I find Obama's election to the presidency to be unacceptable.

From my perspective there isn't any logical way Iran will ever be prevented from developing nuclear weapons. When Iran sees other countries being invaded by more powerful nations they know full well their only chance for a relatively peaceful existence might be in them becoming a nuclear power.

Hoboy! Here we go. Good luck to our new President Elect.

Well there you go, Big O. Thought you could handle everything with a "cool" philosophy toward all? You have already made one major enemy. Gee, I thought it was only "Cowboy" George Bush who could do that... Note that "cool" does not impress anyone except the stupid.

Well there you go, Big O. Thought you could handle everything with a "cool" philosophy toward all? You have already made one major enemy. Gee, I thought it was only "Cowboy" George Bush who could do that... Note that "cool" doesn not impress anyone except the stupid.

I wonder if he regrets endorsing Obama and offering the first Iranian congratulations to a President Elect in 30 years? I'll wager not. There are few people around the world that slept easier Tuesday night (Wednesday night in Tehran, to be literal) than this man.

Ahmadinejad is playing with fire. But this is good; all the rogue leaders of the world are extremely underestimating Obama and his skills and determination. They will be very surprised at how tough they are going to have it in the coming years.

They think he is truly an inexperienced wimp, and will just let them do what they want.

They are in for a rude awakening.

Get used to it Iran. Obama is open minded but not easy.

No nukes are good nukes.

It is a simple statement, stop trying to make nukes and we will talk. The majority of the world agrees that Iran should not have Nukes and that they cannot be trusted to build their own nuclear program based on past behavior. Maybe the Iranian government should look themselves before making stupid statements.

Ha ha, Iran thinks it can tell the United States what to do or tell Obama what to say? I think they better realize that even though the campaign was contentious, we are still United!!

These are the guys BO wants to sit down and chat with. The same guys who old the UN that they would turn Isreal into a burning pile of rubble. This is what hype over substance gets us America.