TEHRAN (AFP) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday congratulated president-elect Barack Obama on his success -- rare praise between the two countries which are archfoes, state agency IRNA reported.

"I congratulate you on being able to attract the majority of votes of the participants of the election," Ahmadinejad said in a message to Obama carried by IRNA.

"You know the opportunities bestowed upon people by God are short-lived," he said.

"I hope you make the most of the chance of service and leave a good name by preferring people's real interests and justice to the insatiable demands of a selfish and indecent minority."

Iran and the United States have had no diplomatic relations for nearly three decades since Islamist students took American diplomats hostage for 444 days following the 1979 Islamic revolution which toppled the US-backed shah.

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