Iran: Open to Relations With Washington -- But Not Quite Yet

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told a group of students Jan. 3 that Iran sees "no benefit" in re-establishing relations with the United States at this time but did not rule out a resumption of ties in the future. Just as the Bush administration cannot simply ignore nearly 30 years of public hostility from Iran, the clerical regime needs to create the conditions needed to prepare the Iranian public for a major foreign policy shift.