Iran: Obama more rational than McCain

Larijani says test for next American president will be "in deeds, not words;" adds US attack unlikely.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Larijani 224.88 ap (photo credit: AP [file])
Larijani 224.88 ap
(photo credit: AP [file])
A top Iranian official said Wednesday that of the two candidates in the US presidential race, Barack Obama seemed to be 'more rational' than his opponent John McCain. Ali Larijani spoke to reporters in the Bahraini capital of Manama during a visit to the small Gulf state he said was aimed at building closer relations with Iran's neighbors. "The Democratic candidate Barack Obama seems to be more rational than the Republican John McCain, but the test [is] in deeds, not words," he said. Larijani, a powerful politician with close ties to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, criticized the US for "exaggerating some minor issues between the countries of the region so that the differences appear to be insurmountable." He added that Iran was ready to enter into security and economic agreements with neighboring countries. The US has accused Iran for destabilizing neighboring Iraq by supporting Shi'ite extremists - a charge Teheran denies. Iran's nuclear program has also created a degree of unease among countries in the Middle East. Larijani expressed doubt that the Washington would launch an attack on Iran over the nuclear dispute, pointing out that the US had to pump massive amounts of money into its economy due to the financial meltdown.