Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has rejected an offer by American — and Oscar winning — film director Oliver Stone because he is part of the “Great Satan,” according to a semiofficial Iranian news agency.

Mehdi Kalhor, media adviser to the Iranian President, was quoted by the Fars agency on Sunday as saying “I sent a negative answer by Ahmadinejad to Oliver Stone.” He added that it is true Stone is a member of the opposition to the U.S. government, but nonetheless he is still part of the evil American machine.

“It is right that this person is considered part of the opposition in the US, but opposition in the US is a part of the Great Satan.”

The whole “Great Satan” verbiage dates back to the time of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who referred to the United States as the Great Satan in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution of Iran.

I think this is a stupid move on the part of Iran, especially given Ahmadinejad’s love for manipulating public perception through propaganda. Recall that he has sent letters to not only President Bush but also the American people, trying to achieve a mutual understanding. He has also challenged President Bush to TV debates, which obviously the White House has denied. Making a film with Oliver Stone would give him unprecedented access to the American public, because Big Media wouldn’t be able to censor it.

The only way for peace is diplomacy and negotiations, and with the Neo-Cons banging the Iran war drums this couldn’t be a more timely opportunity for tensions to get diffused.