But of course. How could it be the fault of anyone else? From The Associated Press, with thanks to Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi:
OSLO, Norway: Iran’s reform-minded former president on Tuesday blamed the West for failing to resolve a standoff over the Islamic republic’s nuclear program and said mounting pressure on Tehran would only make things worse.
Mohammad Khatami said that during his time as president, between 1997 and 2005, he came close to reaching an agreement with European nations that would have allowed Iran to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes. But U.S. pressure forced the Europeans to back off, he said.
“I think our European friends made a mistake and the problem has become more complicated,” Khatami told reporters at a conference in Oslo….
“If more pressure is brought on Iran it will be more difficult for both sides,” Khatami said.
Khatami blamed the United States for fueling the spread of terrorism in the Muslim world and compared U.S. neo-conservative leaders to Islamic fundamentalists.
“Extremism has been strengthened in the Muslim world. If terrorism only existed in Afghanistan, it has been spread to Iraq because of the actions of the United States,” Khatami said. “Violence and extremism are dangerous whether followed by al-Qaida or hardline politicians like the neo-conservatives in the United States.”…
When asked whether he agreed with Ahmadinejad’s calls for Israel to be wiped off the map, he said: “Personally I don’t think any people or nation should be wiped out. But I do believe sometimes facts, what has happened in history, has to be taken into account.”