Obama taking "wrong" path over Israel

By Parisa Hafezi

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's top authority said on Wednesday U.S. President Barack Obama was pursuing the same "wrong path" as George W. Bush in supporting Israel and described the Jewish state as a "cancerous tumour."

The comments by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on policy in the Islamic Republic, are likely to disappoint the new U.S. administration which wants to engage Iran but has called on Tehran to "unclench its fist."

"Even the new president of America, who has come to power with slogans about changing Bush's policies, is defending state terrorism by talking about unconditional commitment to Israel's security," Khamenei said.

Khamenei, speaking at a conference on the Palestinian issue in Tehran, said Obama was following the same "wrong path" of his predecessor in the White House.

The United States has long called on Iran to end its opposition to peace-making in the Middle East and to stop supporting organisations like Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas group that Washington considers terrorist.

Iran says these groups are fighting an illegal occupation on Palestinian land and does not recognise Israel's right to exist.

One Iranian analyst said Khamenei may be restating Iran's tough line to make clear Tehran would not easily give up regional policies that could be bargaining chips in any talks.

"He is saying you also have to change if you want us to change," said the analyst, who asked not be named. "Iran cannot afford letting go of its regional policies. It cannot happen that easily."