Los Angeles ? Iranian-American groups have raised more than $1 million to help victims of last week’s deadly earthquake in Iran, money that some hope will improve relations between the countries.

“I am hoping out of this to have a new relationship going on between the United States and the Iranian government,” said Reza Dehbozorgi, head of the Iranian Professionals Association of South Florida.

The 6.6-magnitude earthquake, which killed about 35,000 people, prompted a nationwide effort by both Iranians and Muslims in general to send relief.

President Bush, who has said Iran is part of an international “axis of evil,” lifted sanctions for 90 days to allow aid to reach victims. Washington and Tehran have had no diplomatic relations since 1979, when militants seized the U.S. embassy in the Iranian capital.

The Southfield, Mich.-based Muslim charity Life for Relief and Redevelopment sent 7 tons of food and children’s clothing immediately after the quake and plans to send medical supplies.

In Los Angeles — home to a third of the nation’s 277,000 Iranian immigrants — the Iranian Muslim Association of North America raised more than $800,000 in pledges during a telethon. The association said it expected about 1,000 people to attend a memorial service today.

“When you see those pictures, it doesn’t matter if it’s your relatives or your family. Everyone wants to help,” said the association’s president, Sadegh Namazikhah.

Still, an indication that U.S.-Iran relations remain strained came Friday when Iran rejected a U.S. proposal to send a humanitarian aid delegation led by Sen. Elizabeth Dole, the former head of the Red Cross.

Iran said it preferred that the delegation be “held in abeyance” because of the current situation on the ground; the U.S. government said it didn’t consider the rejection political.

But some in the U.S. Iranian community don’t think there should be rapprochement until Iran’s Muslim fundamentalist government is replaced by a different leadership.

“There’s a mixed reaction to the Bush proposal to lift the embargo because people who are political opponents think this will help Bush and the regime get together, and this will stabilize the regime more,” said Los Angeles-based journalist Homa Sarshar.

She also said some Iranian immigrants were concerned that money sent by smaller groups might end up with the government.