The man thought most likely to be Iran's next president said yesterday he wanted to repair relations with the United States, but Washington had to take the first steps to end 25 years of enmity.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, in his first interview since declaring his bid for an unprecedented third term as president, also said he would never abandon the country's nuclear programme, comparing such a step to ceding Iranian land.

"It is like giving away part of our territory," Rafsanjani said. "This is our nation's legitimate right... especially when it is in accordance with international laws and regulations."

Rafsanjani, 70, served two terms as president from 1989 to 1997 and announced last week he would run in a June 17 election.

Rafsanjani said his aim as president would be to turn the United States away from what he called adventurism in the Middle East but the first move with Iran had to come from Washington.

"I think that Americans should gradually begin to adopt positive behavior rather than doing evil. They should not expect an immediate reaction in return for their positive measures. It will take time.

"Over time, when Iranians witness America's positive measures, then they will feel that America has given up its hostile policies."

Unblocking around US$8 billion of Iranian assets frozen by the United States would be one way of showing Washington was serious, he added.

Asked why Teheran could not extend the olive branch, he said: "We have never pioneered enmities. When our people have this feeling of being oppressed by America, taking a positive step by the oppressed side would indicate that we are weak or might be considered as a display of fear."

(China Daily May 20, 2005)