The World - News from Feb. 6, 1989

Iranian President Ali Khamenei said that diplomatic relations with Washington will not be possible until the United States abandons its hostile posture toward Iran, Tehran Radio said. “There can be no change in our stance against America, unless there is a change in American foreign policy toward Iran,” the official broadcast quoted Khamenei as saying. “What forces us into our present stance against the United States is its hostile and extremely conspiratorial behavior toward the Islamic Republic and the revolution. . . .” Khamenei said improved relations would have to be preceded by the release of billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen by the United States after the Islamic revolution in 1979.