Iran: We welcome direct talks between Ahmadinejad and Obama

Iran welcomes talks between US President-elect Barack Obama and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian Vice President Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie reportedly said. According to a Reuters report, Mashaie said in an interview that Ahmadinejad had said that "direct diplomacy is the best way to peace." However, the vice president added that Obama would have to distance himself from Washington's current policy in order to implement change.