Obama sees 'possibility of change' in US-Iran ties

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama said Friday he thought there was a possibility of change in US-Iran relations and welcomed the robust debate taking place as Iranians voted in tight elections.
We are excited to see what appears to be a robust debate taking place in Iran, Obama told reporters.
And obviously after the speech that I made in Cairo, we tried to send a clear message that we think theres the possibility of change, and, you know, ultimately the election is for the Iranians to decide.
But just as has been true in Lebanon, what can be true in Iran as well, is that youre seeing people looking at new possibilities.
Long queues formed outside polling stations Friday in the Islamic republics pivotal presidential race with hardline incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad locked in a tough battle against moderate ex-premier Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Whoever ends up winning the election in Iran, the fact that theres been a robust debate hopefully will help advance our ability to engage them in new ways, Obama said.
The Obama administration has been seeking to engage the Iranian leadership in a bid to boost ties, snapped three decades ago.
Meanwhile, thousands of Iranians living in Iraq or on pilgrimages to holy shrines voted in the Iranian presidential election on Friday, said Iranian officials manning the polls said.
Twelve polling centres were scattered across Iraq for Iranians to cast their ballots, from Kurdish provinces bordering Iran, to the southern port city of Basra, and in the shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala.
These elections provide hope for change, said Fadel Abu Hassan, a 27-year-old Iranian who lives in Baghdads Kadhimiyah neighbourhood.
Enas Hashem, 26 and married to an Iraqi, said she hoped the president-elect would work to fix our problems.
Mahdi Haidar, 54, added after casting his ballot for incumbent Mahmud Ahmadinejad: I hope the situation in my country will improve.
In Najaf, a crowd of Iranians formed to vote.
I voted for Ahmadinejad, and the majority of people I spoke to did the same, said Ali Akbari. The country has gotten better since Ahmadinejad became president.
Close to Najafs polling centre, police put strict measures in place to prevent attacks.
In Karbala, officials estimated that 13,000 voters cast their ballots through the course of the day.