By Matthew Lee,Associated Press
Obama has female Badminton players headed to Iran
The Obama administration is sending a women’s badminton team to Iran this week as part of a broad bid to engage the Iranian people through educational and cultural exchanges,the State Department said Monday. Amid a wide-ranging review of U.S. policy toward the Islamic Republic,the trip is the new administration’s first foray into such exchanges that began while President Bush was in the White House. Past exchanges have involved athletes from other sports,artists,academics and professionals.