TEHRAN, Feb 10: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that Iran was prepared to talk to the United States in an atmosphere of equality and mutual respect after three decades of severed ties.

“The Iranian nation will welcome true changes and is ready for dialogue in a climate of equality and mutual respect,” he told a rally held to mark 30 years since the Islamic revolution.

“It is clear that the change must be fundamental and not tactical... the era of bullying is over and the era of dialogue has started.”

However, tens of thousands of Iranians chanting anti-US slogans took to the streets. Demonstrators bore placards reading “30 years of freedom, 30 years of pride,” “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

Rallies were also held across Iran and the intelligence ministry said a bomb was defused, the ISNA news agency reported. “Security forces were alert and foiled the enemy’s plot on the anniversary of revolution,” it quoted Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie as saying in Hamedan.

Meanwhile, former president Mohammad Khatami, who has announced his candidacy in June’s presidential election, was reportedly confronted by a hostile crowd.

A stick-wielding mob shouting “Death to Khatami” tried to attack him but his supporters blocked them, the Baran Foundation website said.

“I officially announce that Iran today is a real and true superpower,” Mr Ahmadinejad said, touting Iran’s “scientific achievements” — most notably the launch of its first home-built satellite.

Mr Ahmadinejad advised US President Barack Obama to shun the policies of former president George W. Bush, who rejected talks unless Iran suspended its nuclear work and never ruled out a military option to thwart it.—AFP