Ahmadinejad sees a shift with West

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he sees “common ground” with the West over his country’s disputed nuclear program, and “new behavior” from the United States that could merit a positive response.

Ahmadinejad told NBC News he believes U.S. policy “has been to confront the Iranian people” for 50 years. But he said he now sees “new behavior” and is unsure whether it’s based on “mutual respect, cooperation and justice.”

“If the approach changes, we will be facing a new situation and the response by the Iranian people will be a positive one,” Ahmadinejad said.

The State Department downplayed Ahmadinejad’s comments Monday, with spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos saying, “Deeds, not words, are what we are looking for.”