Hillary Hits The Ball To Iran. Sort of.

In a clear show of solidarity with President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton yesterday made her first public statements concerning US-Iranian relations, telling reporters, "here is a clear opportunity for the Iranians, as the president expressed in his interview, to demonstrate some willingness to engage meaningfully with the international community. Whether or not that hand becomes less clenched is really up to them." The same say, Secretary Clinton also released statements coming down clearly on the side of Israel in the Gaza conflict, and must have know as she was speaking that Egypt, in cooperation with the US, was moving to block Iranian ships coming to the Gaza Strip to re-arm Hamas. UN Ambassador Susan Rice echoed similar calls, saying the US will only directly engage Iran diplomatically if they halt nuclear programs. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad quickly shot back with a laundry list of demands, including an apology, "profound changes" in US policy in the Middle East, and a blunt refusal to halt nuclear programs. And, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Larijani had an equally damning evaluation of President Obama's policy toward Iran and the Middle East in general, indicating doubtfulness that much will change from the Bush administration.