In the Obama administration's first specific overture to Iran, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that Iran could be invited to attend a U.S.-proposed international conference on Afghanistan if such a meeting eventually goes forward.

Analysts consider such a move as the start of a diplomatic outreach to Iran, but a thaw in the longstanding rivalry between the two countries could not be imminent.

Dramatic turnaround

The United States hoped all of Afghanistan's neighbors, including Iran, would attend an international conference on the country, the White House said Thursday.

Clinton proposed in Brussels earlier in the day that an international ministerial conference be held March 31 to contribute to stabilizing Afghanistan and fighting the Taliban-led insurgency.

"If we move forward with such a meeting, it is expected that Iran would be invited as a neighbor of Afghanistan," Clinton said.

"Afghanistan is something that presents a great challenge, not just for our country, but for the rest of the world ... Obviously we hope that all of Afghanistan's neighbors are available and that the dialogue is constructive and moves us forward," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.

"I would expect that Iran would be invited as a neighbor and that we hope, if they decide to come, that they bring constructive solutions and ideas in working with the international community to address the challenges," Gibbs said.

Since the Obama administration took office, its favorite phrases have been "engage," "listen to" and "negotiate." That's because it is eager to show there is some departure in its diplomacy from that of the Bush administration.

At the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, while expounding on American foreign policy, said the United States was reviewing its approach toward Iran and is willing to establish "a new tone."

React with caution

In a dramatic shift from his predecessor Bush's strategy, U.S. President Barrack Obama said during his first press conference since taking office that his administration is "looking for openings" to start face-to-face talks with Iran.

The new president said he saw the possibility of openings with Teheran in the months ahead to seek "diplomatic overtures that will allow us to move our policy in a new direction."

Iran, however, has reacted with caution to the olive branch from Washington.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Teheran was ready for "fair talks" with the United States.

"The new U.S. administration has said it wants changes and follow the course of dialogue ... but the changes must be fundamental and not tactical."

Iran welcomes "true changes and is ready to hold talks but talks in a fair atmosphere with mutual respect," Ahmadinejad said.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the United States needs a change of strategy to pave the way for direct talks with the country.

"We have to know what their objectives are... Practical steps for such a dialogue between Teheran and Washington would be a strategy change," Larijani said. "The carrot and stick policy must be dropped."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Obama follows "the same crooked ways of the Bush administration and nothing else."

The fact that senior Iranian officials have reiterated on several occasions that the United States should make fundamental "change" shows that Tehran is still worried whether the new administration is repeating Bush's strategy in a different "tone," analysts said.

Iranian threat remains

The United States and other western countries have questioned Iran's uranium enrichment program, claiming that Iran intends to secretly develop nuclear weapons.

However, Iran insists that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and will continue its uranium enrichment activity despite pressure from the West.

"Our eyes are wide open with regard to Iran," Clinton said at an international conference for rebuilding the Gaza Strip, adding that "We're under no illusions."

During her first Middle East trip as secretary of state, Clinton assured Israeli officials that the U.S. administration is committed to Israel's security.

Throughout the meeting, Israeli officials repeatedly voiced concern that Iran is moving closer to nuclear weapons. That issue touches Israel's most sensitive nerves because Iranian leaders have repeatedly denied Israel's right of existence.

"I urge President Barack Obama and the secretary of state that they resolutely object to a nuclear Iran. We will discuss ways in which we can ensure this," said outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

In response to the U.S. administration's possible dialogue with Tehran, Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Clinton that the United States should set a deadline for its diplomatic efforts with Iran.

It is difficult for the two countries to establish mutual trust in the short term, analysts said, both sides should put their words into actions and adopt pragmatic steps to ease tensions in bilateral relations.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2009)