Leader calls Iran's hatred of US deep

TEHRAN - Iran's supreme leader said yesterday that his country's hatred for the United States runs deep and differences between the two nations go beyond a "few political issues."

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments on state-run television less than a week before US presidential elections were seen as a signal that a thaw in US-Iran relations was not expected no matter who wins the Nov. 4 race.

Khamenei said the hatred is rooted in 50 years of US intervention in Iran's domestic affairs and hostility toward Tehran.

"The hatred of the Iranian nation is deep-seated. The reason is the various conspiracies by the US government against the Iranian people and government in the past 50 years," Khamenei said.

He was addressing a group of students in Tehran days ahead of the 29th anniversary of the 1979 storming of the US Embassy in Tehran by militant students.

Iran blames the CIA for helping topple the elected government of Mohammad Mosaddeq in the 1950s and blames the United States for openly supporting the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi against the 1979 Islamic revolution that led to the collapse of the dynasty.

Iranians also condemn Washington for arming and supporting former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

"This dispute (with America) goes further than differences of opinion over a few political issues," the leader said.

Iranian political analyst Saeed Leilaz said Khamenei's address sent a clear message that he will have to approve any efforts for reconciliation with United States.

ASSOCIATED PRESS