DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - The top Hamas leader on Thursday welcomed what he said is "new language" by President Barack Obama toward the Islamic militant group - part of Hamas’ cautious outreach to Washington in recent weeks.

In a televised speech, Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal avoided any mention of the recent turmoil in Iran, even though the Islamic militant group is backed by the Tehran regime.

Earlier Thursday, Iran’s hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, accused Obama of meddling because of growing U.S. criticism of Iran’s clampdown on opposition protesters. Iran’s other militant ally, the Lebanese Hezbollah group, has sided with Iran’s ruling clerics.

Hamas has been trying to reach out to the Obama administration in hopes of breaking out of its international isolation and prying open the borders of blockaded Hamas-ruled Gaza.