Iran Requests Obama Interview

Iranian State-Run News Agency says the request for an interview with President Obama is in response to Obama's recent statements seeking new opportunities to have dialog with Iran.

The Islamic News Agency's U.N. representative, Khosro Shayesteh told CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk that they have requested the interview and are waiting for a response, saying that this would be a direct way for Mr. Obama to reach out to the Iranian people if he wants to begin a dialogue.

"The Iranian request for an interview with Obama comes at an opportune time for U.S.-Iran relations since both President Obama and Iran's President have offered to begin negotiations, which were stalled during the eight years of the Bush Administration, and because Obama gave his first official interview as President to Al Arabiya," said Falk.

Iran's president said the world was "entering an era of dialogue" and that his country would welcome talks with its longtime adversary, the United States, if they are based on mutual respect.

Ahmadinejad's announcement comes a day after Mr. Obama said his administration was looking for opportunities to engage Iran and pledged to rethink United States' relationship with Tehran.

"The Iranian nation is ready for talks (with the U.S.) but in a fair atmosphere with mutual respect," Ahmadinejad told hundreds of thousands of Iranians during a celebration marking the 30th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah and brought hard-line clerics to power.