White House disputes Iran report saying Obama letter offered direct talks

[onehandle]

Amid intense diplomatic activity to broker a new round of international talks with Iran over its nuclear program, the White House disputed Iranian reports Wednesday that President Obama sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader offering direct bilateral talks.

According to Iran's Fars News, Iran has received a letter from President Obama warning against closing the Strait of Hormuz, but also offering direct talks.

"The first part of the letter contains threats and the second part contains an offer for dialogue," Iran parliament member Ali Motahari told the Iranian news service, according to the Associated Press. "In the letter, Obama called for direct talks with Iran … [and] also said that closing the Strait of Hormuz is (Washington's) red line." The administration disputed the lawmaker's characterization.

Obama's message to the Iranian leader was a standard diplomatic communication--not a letter--relaying privately what the United States has said publicly about red-lines in the Strait of Hormuz, a source explained on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic communications. The diplomatic demarche also repeated the message that the United States and its UN Security Council partners remain committed to a diplomatic solution to tensions.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/white-house-disputes-iran-report-saying-obama-letter-201035124.html

[applegrove]

1. It has been obvious for weeks that the Iranians are really being hurt by sanctions, embargoes

or the threat of these things. The Iranians have been lashing out, as in the threat to close the Straights, or they have been 'sucking in', as in this claim that the US wants direct talks.

[JackRiddler]

2. How crazy it's gotten that this would be a bad thing.

Obama campaigned on the idea of talks with Iran and won. People don't want the constant threat of a new war.