Iranian News Agency Requests Obama Interview

The official press of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), requested an interview with President Obama, reports AHN.

The Islamic News Agency's U.N. representative, Khosro Shayesteh told CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk that they have requested the interview and are waiting for a response from Obama to begin a dialogue. "The Iranian request for an interview with Obama comes at an opportune time for U.S.-Iran relations since both President Obama and Iran's President have offered to begin negotiations, which were stalled during the eight years of the Bush Administration, and because Obama gave his first official interview as President to Al Arabiya," said Falk.

The announcement comes days after Obama said the United States is looking for opportunities to directly engage with Iran, as reported in CNN.

"In the coming months, we will be looking for openings that can be created where we can start sitting across the table face to face," Obama said.

This also comes a day after Ahmadinejad said he welcomes talks with Obama.

"The Iranian nation is ready to hold talks, but talks in a climate of fairness with mutual respect," he said.