Khatami: Iran 'must look to the future'

Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami sat down with NBC New's Ann Curry for an interview on May 23, 2009. Read the interview here, and   see the full Dateline NBC report here.

Ann Curry, NBC News:

Your Excellency, why are you hoping that President Ahmadinejad will not be reelected?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

Right now, I am quite glad that we have this election to be held, and I hope that it would be a good and healthy election.  And what is the first priority to us is that people would feel responsible coming to the scene, go to the ballot boxes. And whatever is getting out of it we will accept it.

But I believe most of the people would like to have other breakthrough solutions and policies.  And, naturally, we would like to have the same, a change.  And if the people would come to the ballot boxes in large, then the majority will win.  And that's what we expect.

Ann Curry:

What would Mr. Mousavi do that President Ahmadinejad won't do?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

You know, our country has a very particular position.  We have, our nation have very special goals.  And we have been striving and and fighting for freedom and independence, and the conclusion of this struggle was Islamic Republic of Iran.

People are deciding about their government and the government should feel responsible against people, and they should have the rights of all the citizens.  And, you know, we have a very particular strategic and geopolitical position.  We have huge resources; we have very ancient background and history.

But, unfortunately, in the past couple of decades, we have been hindered a little bit, and we may compensate to have all-out development.  And I think in all these respects we have problem.  And we do need the ones who would think about development, advancement of the country to get to the deserved position Iran should have in international community.  To think about the national interest and should have the power to have a proper planning, domestically and in the international affairs, so to take advantage of the opportunities to have promotion and development alongside the other nations.  And we have huge revenues and resources, and we could have had much better plans for development out of these revenues much faster.  But it didn't happen, unfortunately.

And I strongly believe that our position in the world in the past was much better than what we have today. I'm not condemning anyone, and I don't say that anyone had some misintention. But what has been implemented was wrong. And it could be much better serving the nation, serving the development in advancement of the nation.  And realizing the goals that we have been fighting for in our revolution.  Freedom and independence.

And I believe that Mr.-- we don't say Mousavi, with his approach and his reputation as a prime minister, and the way he thinks about asking about the solutions from the others' and expert ideas.  And how he really respects experts' ideas and respects people, I think he would be much more successful.

Ann Curry:

This election is occurring at a significant moment for Iran and for the United States.  How would you describe this moment?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

Of course, in regard to our relationship with the United States, there are lots of discussions.  It goes back to a couple decades ago in the past.  And of course it's due to the wrong policies that the American officials decided upon Iran and the region, particularly Iran, I mean.

But I don't believe that this past should always get continued, like a beast casting a shadow over us.  We have to look at the future.  A future in which we would preserve our identity and values-- the Islamic revolution.  Our national interests.  And at the same time, the Americans would serve their national interests on the other side.

If they go and look at the past, then it is very gloomy.  When we look at the future horizon, and if we believe that these policies about Iran would never get continued again, and Iran would also feel realistic toward the relationship with the United States, I think we would get to the conclusion that Iranians would feel confident that this is the wise decision.

And we would have the perfect relationship with the Americans.  And also we would have the position that we do deserve in the international community.  We used to have it before, and I don't think that election would make a major difference in this regard.

It goes back to the honesty of President Obama in what he has stated with regard to change, and how this change would be essential with regard to their approach toward Iran.  And how far President Obama is ready to confess about these mistakes and compensate them and get to a compromise.  And to remove the obstacles on the way of bringing up this situation to a normal relationship.

There is one good advantage in President Obama.  I think I am quite optimistic that he would be able to serve the national interests of the United States and the whole world to the best interests of all the people around the globe, and particularly with Iran and the United States.

And Iran should also be ready to take advantage of this opportunity and this American approach to serve its national interests.  And election, of course, can be a positive step ahead if we would have a president that would devise the same positive, optimistic approaches.  Some wise decisions to be made by the future Iranian president, then we may hope that we would get to a compromise.

Ann Curry:

What mistakes do you believe the United States must admit-- that President Obama must admit for there to be better relationships with Iran?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

You know, the policies that the American administration devised in the past half century after Second World War was not the proper one, we believe from our own point of view.  And, you know, the American nation is a big nation.  We respect them.  And the United States cannot be neglected.  It's a very important, impressive country.

The economic recession that is happening in the United States is a good example.  It is casting its shadow over everyone.  That shows the importance of the United States.  As a matter of science, technology, and technical affairs, America has a second to none position.  I really respect the American nation.

I have discussed this matter with the Americans thoroughly in details.  I do not want to go to the details now, but I believe the policies that they have devised in international community, particularly with regard to Middle East and Iran as of 50 years ago, was not proper, was wrong.  Even after Islamic revolution, they have the improper policy.

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And I have to state that there is a pessimistic approach toward the American policy.  Not just from the government, also from the people, the Iranian nation, so we do require a major change.  And the Americans have the key role and the leverage to change this approach. And Iranians should also revise their approach toward the American policies and, on the other hand, the Americans would do the same.  And particularly in the eight years of new conservatives in office, these misunderstatings were even more.  And they committed more mistakes.  And the reactions was also in return very severe.  And we may hope that that time is over.  That era.

And both sides, considering their national interests, which have a lot in common, I believe, we may define them.  We may look at a better future and horizon.  The United States should reduce the pressure over Iran.  And also sending the Iranian nuclear dossier to Security Council was a vague action.

It was a wrong decision and it didn't work, ultimately.  We may get to a compromise with understanding and wise decisions.  But anyhow, ultimately this dossier is sent to the Security Council.  The first step is that it should be frozen in the Security Council and to be taken back to the IAEA.

And there shouldn't be any precondition for the talks between Iran and United States, and two major issues that have been accepted should be the base for our discussions.  The United States states that Iran may get access to the nuclear arms.  And they would like to have objective guarantee.

Iran is quite prepared to do so, to give this objective guarantee, because we do not have any intention to get access to the nuclear weapon.  I'm aware of all the details of this dossier-- nuclear dossier-- it was developed during my time in office.  And Iran, like any other member of non-proliferation treaty, has the rights to have access for peaceful purposes of nuclear energy.

It should be seconded by United States and other countries.  And if there is the goodwill, we would be able to sit at the table of negotiations without any precondition.  At the same time, Iran would get access to these peaceful purposes of nuclear energy.  And, on the other hand, would give objective guarantee to the other countries that we would not go to and divert to military purposes.  And these are very important matters.

And some sanctions and pressures should also be removed from Iran and the Iranian nation, ultimately.  And particularly the pressures over Iranian people abroad, because of their nationality.  I think they have to get changed.  We have huge resources blocking there.  We have a longstanding sanction by the United States to impose.  So to remove that it would be a signal of goodwill.  And we hope that-- we would sit at a table of negotiations very soon, and get into the process of the big change.

Ann Curry:

You're saying you believe that there is a possibility of dialogue between Iran and the United States?  President Obama has said he's extending his hand.  Will Iran unclench its fist?

Former President Mohammad Khatami:

You know, the President Obama said that, and I think the Supreme Leader in Noruse (PH) has stated and responded to this statement.  And even he has stated that if we see that there are real changes, serious changes, in the United States, you may expect changes in Iranian policy too.  That was a very positive approach.

Of course, they were just words.  And words are not just enough.  And, you know, sometimes they commit some mistakes.  Or maybe there are some intentions that while they are talking, some other would talk in another way.  And then they say that, "No, we have conditions to-- for negotiation to sit at the table."  And Iran should believe that Iran should be pushed to accept what the Americans would like to have.

There should be negotiation with no precondition at all.  Just to get to a compromis, a proper solution for both countries.  That's what we really seek.  And we should make the major steps practically.  Not just words.  Words would not serve anything.

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