He offered an even-handed acknowledgement of the causes of the mistrust between the US and Iran, saying: "Iranians have long complained of a history of US interference in their affairs and of America's role in overthrowing an Iranian government during the Cold War. On the other hand, Americans see an Iranian government that has declared the United States an enemy and, directly or through proxies, taken American hostages, killed US troops and civilians and threatened our ally, Israel, with destruction."