Top aide says Iran worries about Obama

"We have concerns Obama will not be successful in bring change to US policies," Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, the senior aide to President Ahmadinejad and his chief of staff, said.

If he cannot fulfill his promise to resolve issues between Tehran and Washington, he said, we cannot hold our breath that he would resolve other issues facing the US, the Iranian Students News Agency reported.

In his State of the Union address to Congress on Wednesday, Obama explained about his effort in the past year to develop a new approach toward nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea.

The focus on nuclear arms control "is why North Korea now faces increased isolation and stronger sanctions -- sanctions that are being vigorously enforced," Obama said.

"That is why the international community is more united, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is more isolated," he said. "And as Iran's leaders continue to ignore their obligations, there should be no doubt: they too, will face growing consequences."

Mashaei rejected the remarks and said Iranians are "the flag-bearers of peace."

"The Iranian nation never seeks war because beautiful people do not look for a quarrel," he said. "However, we would defend our country and religion with our blood if any danger looms over our land."

Mashaei said it was time for Washington to realize it needed Tehran's help if it wanted to "get out of the quagmire it has made in Iraq and Afghanistan."

/Press TV/