By Li Rong

The recent war of words between Tehran and Washington on the former's post-election unrest could be a test of Barack Obama's determination in pressing on with his new diplomacy, analysts said.

Many believe Tehran's harsh responses could dampen President Obama's friendly gesture toward Iran, but it is not likely to divert him from the road of reconciliation.

Nevertheless, it is probable the rows could add pressure on Obama, who has been criticized as being too utopian in his foreign policies.

Trading of words

Two weeks ago, incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad emerged the winner in elections for the country's next president, with over 62 percent of the votes, far ahead of the 33.75 percent gained by his main rival Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Mousavi's supporters launched massive rallies in Tehran and other cities, charging fraud and other irregularities in the election.

Obama abandoned his usually measured approach toward Ahmadinejad, and strongly condemned the Iranian government's "unjust actions" in cracking down on the demonstrations.

Ahmadinejad responded on Thursday by urging Obama to express "regret" over his "interference in Iran's affairs", saying he was "repeating things that former US President George W. Bush used to say."

"Will you (Obama) use this language to speak with Iran? If this is your stance, there will be nothing left to talk about," Ahmadinejad said.

Major setback?   

The nothing-left-to-talk-about comment did get on the nerves of the Obama administration, which is striving to be, or at least appear to be, neutral in fostering a non-aggressive stance in dealing with countries like Iran.

"There are people in Iran who want to make this not about a debate among Iranians in Iran, but about the West and the United States," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Thursday.

"I would add President Ahmadinejad to that list of people trying to make this about the United States," he said.

Despite Ahmadinejad's analogy of Obama to his predecessor, Gibbs' remarks marked major differences from the Bush administration in similar circumstances, analysts said.

They said it even showed a reluctance by the White House to get involved in other countries' internal affairs.

Obama has displayed his advocacy of the so-called "smart diplomacy" ever since he took office in January. He has extended an olive branch to Cuba and Venezuela in Latin America, and softened tones on Iran and Syria.

His stances in dealing with the "old enemies" have met with vehement opposition at home, and not much welcomed by the Arab and Muslim rejectionists, who have made it clear they want to see concrete actions, not just nice words.

"Obama already is under renewed political pressure at home to stiffen US policy," a report by the Associated Press said. The Iran election outcome and the crackdown on opposition protests "appear to be a major setback, at least in the short run," it said.

However, Vice President Joe Biden said immediately after the election results were announced that efforts to engage Tehran, with the goal of stopping its pursuit for nuclear weapons, would continue.

Obama's new diplomacy, which has begun to generate support and even enthusiasm, pledges a hope for finding an effective way in addressing conflicts among different interest groups, analysts said.

Many Middle East leaders have showed their appreciation of the new US diplomacy. President Hosni Mubarack of Egypt praised Obama as precise, reasoned and willing to listen, in sharp contrast to his predecessor.

Obama is apparently building a positive personal profile among peoples in the countries he is interested in, and that could encourage him to go further, analysts said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2009)