Iran warned US forces in Iraq yesterday that it would respond to any violation of Iranian airspace, a message analysts said seemed directed at the US president-elect more than neighbouring American troops.
The Iranian army statement, reported by state radio, followed a cross-border raid last month by US forces into Syria, a move that was condemned by Damascus and Tehran.
But an Iranian politician said the timing suggested it was directed at Barack Obama more than at the US military, and might reflect concern by hardliners in Iran who thrived on confrontation with Washington.
Mr Obama has said he would toughen sanctions on Iran but has also held out the possibility of direct talks to resolve disputes.
Washington, which has not had diplomatic ties with Tehran since 1980, has accused Iran of funding, equipping and training militants in Iraq. Iran denies this and says insecurity is due to the presence of US troops who should quit Iraq.
"This is a clear message to the American president-elect because radicals are not very happy that Obama has been elected," said the Iranian politician, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the subject.
Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, the most senior official to comment on the US election result so far, said he hoped Mr Obama would distance himself from George Bush's policies.
"The election of Barack Obama as America's president is a clear sign of the American people's wish and desire for fundamental changes in America's domestic and foreign policies," Mr Mottaki told reporters, the IRNA news agency reported.
Mr Obama has not ruled out military action although he has criticised the outgoing administration for not pushing for more diplomacy and engagement with Iran.
"Change of political figures is not important by itself. What is more important is a change of American policy," said Ali Aghamohammadi, a close aide to Iran's most powerful figure, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.