What Obama's message to Iran means

In diplomacy such efforts at overcoming major differences sometimes end simply in defining those differences more sharply.
These issues were not directly mentioned by Mr Obama but this is what he is referring to:
• Iran to give up uranium enrichment and accept international offers to provide fuel for nuclear power
Iran to stop arming Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza
Iran to help in achieving peace in Afghanistan and Iraq
Iran to stop threatening Israel.
Iran will want the following:
Acceptance of its right to enrich uranium
An end to UN sanctions
An end to US sanctions
An end to America's "colonialist attitudes", including its support for Zionism.
What Obama really means
It is worth deconstructing the president's speech to try to read between the lines.
Flattery is often a good way to start - he talks about the "great" Iranian civilisation and conjures up warm images with references to common family feelings on public holidays.
All this, on the Iranian spring holiday of Nowruz, is an effort to overcome Iranian suspicions that it is held in low esteem by the US.
Perhaps the diplomatically key phrase is this: "My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us."