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Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that Iran is safe from any foreign military threat since the country has become a responsible superpower.

“Today, I officially declare that Iran has become a real and righteous superpower, and the shadow of threats over Iran has been removed forever,” the president stated at a rally in Tehran marking the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Ahmadinejad also said Iran would welcome a “fundamental” and not “tactical” change by the new U.S. administration and was ready for dialogue provided talks were held in a “fair atmosphere and with mutual respect.”

U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Monday that the United States is looking for opportunities for “face-to-face” dialogue with Iran after nearly three decades without diplomatic ties.

“There’s been a lot of mistrust built up over the years, so it’s not going to happen overnight,” CNN quoted Obama as saying during his first news conference.

Ahmadinejad went on to say “belittlement, threats, and monopolization of science” are the arrogant powers’ means to dominate nations, but the Iranian people have surpassed all these obstacles and are now filled with self-confidence.

He pointed to Iran’s recent satellite launch, saying Iran is now one of only eight countries that possess the complete cycle of launch pad, rocket, reception station, and satellite.

Iran launched its first domestically manufactured satellite, called Omid (hope), into orbit on February 2.

The satellite, carried on a Safir-2 rocket, is meant for telecommunications and research purposes.

Today the world is about to enter the era of logic, thought, and dialogue, and the era of force and domination is over, Ahmadinejad added

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