Iranian Overture Might Complicate Relations With Israel.

When President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran took up President Obama's oft-repeated invitation for direct talks between the United States and Iran -- something that hasn't happened in 30 years -- he seemed to be signaling the start of a long-delayed war-or-peace drama that may define the Obama administration's first engagement with the rest of the world. It was only three weeks ago today, in his inaugural address, that Mr. Obama promised a new relationship with nations willing to ''unclench their fist,'' an offer he repeated at his news conference on Monday evening. And it is too early to know quite how to read Mr. Ahmadinejad's declaration that ''Our nation is ready to hold talks based on mutual respect and in a fair atmosphere.'' After all, it's never exactly clear who is running the country's foreign policy, and there is good reason to question whether the fiery Iranian president will overcome his mismanagement of the country's economy to survive the June 12 elections there. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]