Iran: Obama calls for direct talks with Tehran in secret letter

Letter also warns Iran against closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to a conservative Iranian lawmaker.

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TEHRAN // Barack Obama, the US president, has called for direct talks with Iran in a secret letter to the Islamic Republic's supreme leader that also warned Tehran against closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a conservative Iranian lawmaker was quoted as saying yesterday.

Iran has threatened to close the waterway, the route for about one-sixth of the global oil flow, because of new US sanctions over its nuclear programme.

Conservative lawmaker Ali Motahari revealed the content of the letter days after the US administration said it was warning Iran through public and private channels against any action that threatens the flow of oil from the Gulf.

"In the letter, Obama called for direct talks with Iran," the semi-official Fars news agency quoted Mr Motahari as saying yesterday. "The letter also said that closing the Strait of Hormuz is (Washington's) red line."

"The first part of the letter contains threats and the second part contains an offer for dialogue," he added.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast confirmed that Tehran received the letter and was considering a possible response.

The White House would not confirm the letter. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor pointed to earlier comments from the US administration that noted the US had a number of ways to communicate its views to the Iranian government. He said the US remained committed to engaging with Tehran and finding a diplomatic solution to its larger issues with Iran's nuclear programme.

Spokesmen have been vague on what the United States would do about Iran's threat to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but military officials have been clear that the US is readying for a possible naval clash.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the country's most powerful military force, says Tehran's leadership has decided to order the closure of the oil route if Iran's oil exports are blocked. A senior Guard officer said earlier this month that the decision has been made by Iran's top authorities.

Iranian politicians have made the threat in the past, but this was the strongest statement yet that a closure of the strait is official policy.