BEIJING, June 6 -- U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday in a major speech to the Muslim world in Cairo that the United States is willing to move forward with Iran without any precondition and based on mutual respects.

    "This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and Islamic Republic of Iran," said Obama, referring to Iran's nuclear ambitions which was accused by the west of trying to make a bomb.

    "Any nation, including Iran, should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power, if it complies with the responsibilities of the nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty," he said, adding that "I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal."

    Since he took office in January, Obama has made several overtures to Iran, calling for a "new beginning" of engagement with the Islamic Republic, which snubbed the overture in public and asked for more substantial changes of U.S. policies.

    Obama has said soon after assuming the presidency that reducing spread of nuclear weapons in the world is a top priority for his administration.

    It is suspected that Israel, with the U.S. aid and a large number West-educated experts, has its own nuclear arsenal.

    "Americans seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons," said Obama, who was hailed by the audience.

    However, prior to Obama's delivery of the much-anticipated speech to the Muslim world in Cairo University, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday the United States was "deeply" hated in the Middle East and urged Washington to take "actions" to transform its image.The new U.S. government could not change its image by "words, speeches and slogans," Khamenei said. "Actions are needed."

    Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo.

    (Source: XHTV)