Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told reporters in his weakly press conference on Monday that Iran does not expect much change in the U.S. policies.

Asked whether Iran expected U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to talk to the current Iranian government or wait after Iran's presidential election in June next year, Qashqavi said, "We shouldn't expect basic changes in American policy."

"This is especially the case with Islamic Republic of Iran," Qashqavi said, adding that Iran's strategic policies are decided by the will of the late revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini, the guidelines of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the nation's constitution.

Referring to Obama's remarks on the Iranian nuclear issue on Friday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that nuclear weapons had no place in Iran's defense doctrine.

Addressing his first press conference since Nov. 4 election, Obama also said in Chicago on Friday that Iran's development of nuclear weapon is "unacceptable."

The United States and its allies have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran denies the charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

In a reply to the criticism by some Iranian official on the congratulatory letter by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Obama, Qashqavi said, "This letter, on the one hand, represents Iran's official position towards the U.S. presidential election and, on the other hand, this shows the active diplomatic capacity of Iran and Iran's president."

Ahmadinejad sent a congratulatory letter to Obama following his historic victory over Republican John McCain on Tuesday.

Obama confirmed that he had received the letter from Iran's president and said that "I will be reviewing the letter from President Ahmadinejad and we will respond appropriately."

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2008)