How Many Iranians Saw Obama's Nowruz Message?
The AP reports that "Iran played down" President Obama’s new video message to the Iranian people recognizing the holiday Nowruz. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s press aide said “minor changes will not end the differences” between Iran and the United States:
“Obama has talked of change but has taken no practical measures to address America’s past mistakes in Iran. If Mr. Obama takes concrete actions and makes fundamental changes in U.S. foreign policy toward other nations including Iran, the Iranian government and people will not turn their back on him,” Ali Akbar Javanfekr told the Iranian state-run English-language Press TV satellite station.
It wasn’t clear how many Iranians were able to see the video, which was not aired on state television in Iran on Friday. It was likely shown on Farsi-language TV stations beamed in from outside of the country, but many Iranians don’t watch television in the first days of long Nowruz holiday that is normally filled with family gatherings or vacations away from home.
"Iranians could see the video on the White House Web site, but other popular video sharing sites like YouTube are blocked in Iran," the AP notes.
