Obama sees ‘possibility of change’ in Iran

President Obama said Friday his administration sees a “possibility of change” in Iran as voters in that country go to the polls in its presidential election today.

“We are excited to see a robust debate taking place in Iran,” Obama said at the White House after remarks on signing the tobacco bill. “We think there is a possibility of change.”

High turnout in Iranian elections has raised hopes that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a thorn in the side of both Presidents Bush and Obama, might go down to defeat at the hands of a reformist candidate.

Obama’s remarks signal optimism that Ahmadinejad may find himself out of office when the election is finished, though outside observers have raised questions about the final accuracy of the polls.

“We’re seeing people looking at new possibilities,” the president said, adding he hoped to engage Iranians in new ways.