LONDON, Jan 29: Ignoring Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s demand for an apology for ‘US actions against Iran over the past 60 years’, officials of Barack Obama’s administration are said to have drafted a letter to Iran from the president aimed at unfreezing US-Iranian relations and opening the way for face-to-face talks, reports the Guardian.

The paper claimed on Thursday to have learnt that the US State Department had been working on drafts of the letter since Mr Obama was elected on Nov 4. It is in reply to a lengthy letter of congratulations sent by the Iranian president on Nov 6.Diplomats said President Obama’s letter would be a symbolic gesture to mark a change in tone from the hostile one adopted by the Bush administration, which portrayed Iran as part of an “axis of evil”.

It would be intended to allay the suspicions of Iran’s leaders and pave the way for Mr Obama to engage them directly, a break with past policy.

State Department officials have composed at least three drafts of the letter, which gives assurances that Washington does not want to overthrow the Islamic regime, but merely seeks a change in its behaviour. The letter would be addressed to the Iranian people and sent directly to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or released as an open letter.

One draft proposal suggests that Iran should compare its relatively low standard of living with that of some of its more prosperous neighbours, and contemplate the benefits of losing its pariah status in the West. Although the tone is conciliatory, it also calls on Iran to end what the US calls state sponsorship of terrorism.

The letter is being considered by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of a sweeping review of US policy on Iran. A decision on sending it is not expected until the review is complete.

While President Obama is taking the lead on policy towards Iran, the administration will soon announce that Dennis Ross will become a special envoy to the country.

Mr Ross, who took a leading role in the Middle East peace talks in Bill Clinton’s administration, will be responsible on a day-to-day basis for implementing policy towards Iran.

In a graphic sign of Iranian mistrust, the hardline newspaper Kayhan, which is considered close to Ayatollah Khamenei, has denounced Mr Ross as a “Zionist lobbyist”.

Saeed Leylaz, a Tehran-based analyst, said a US letter would have to be accompanied by security guarantees and an agreement to drop economic sanctions. “If they send such a letter it will be a very significant step towards better ties, but they should be careful in not thinking Tehran will respond immediately,” he said.

“There will be disputes inside the system about such a letter. There are (a) lot of radicals who don’t want to see ordinary relations between Tehran and Washington. To convince Iran, they should send a very clear message that they are not going to try to destroy the regime.”