In Turnabout, Conservatives in Iran Back Ahmadinejad - NYTimes.com

In Turnabout, Conservatives in Iran Back Ahmadinejad - NYTimes.com: "In Turnabout, Conservatives in Iran Back Ahmadinejad
By NAZILA FATHI

TEHRAN — President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad received praise from Iran’s reformist politicians and withering criticism from its conservatives after he sent Barack Obama a letter last week congratulating him on winning the American presidential race.

But in a sign that conservatives fear their attacks might inadvertently strengthen a possible reformist candidate in Iran’s own presidential vote in June, their criticism has quickly shifted to early support for Mr. Ahmadinejad’s re-election.

The potential opponent is former President Mohammad Khatami. He has not announced his candidacy, but is under pressure from his political allies to run.

On Friday, Mr. Obama offered a public reaction to the letter in his first postelection news conference, saying that he would review it and respond appropriately. But he also said “Iran’s support of terrorist organizations, I think, is something that has to cease” and its suspected development of nuclear weapons was not acceptable.

On Saturday, reformist politicians offered praise for Mr. Ahmadinejad’s outreach. The letter “presented a humane, reasonable and peace-seeking image of Iran,” according to the daily news"