Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Congressman Allen West said:"The news that President Obama has sent a secret letter to Iran’s supreme leader for direct talks is unconscionable. This comes after the Obama administration seeking to release Afghan Taliban leaders in a show of good faith to enter negotiations with the Taliban, after Vice President Biden stated that we were not at war with the Taliban. The US military just cancelled an exercise with Israel that focused on missile defense. President Obama is not only decimating our economy and our military……he is becoming the 21st century Neville Chamberlain. This is alarming and disgraceful."
01/18/12 01:41 PM ET 
TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian lawmaker claimed Wednesday that President Barack Obama 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.
Obama administration officials denied there was such a letter.
Iran has threatened to close the waterway, the route for about one-sixth of the global oil flow, because of new U.S. sanctions over its nuclear program.
Conservative lawmaker Ali Motahari revealed the content of the letter days after the Obama administration said it was warning Iran through public and private channels against any action that threatens the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf.
"In the letter, Obama called for direct talks with Iran," the semiofficial Fars news agency quoted Motahari as saying Wednesday. "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.
White House acknowledges letter to Iran, mum on alleged call for direct talks
Jan. 13, 2012: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves to reporters from his airplane at an air base as he departs Quito, Ecuador.
Published January 18, 2012
Obama administration officials would not confirm whether President Obama called for direct talks with Iran, after an Iranian lawmaker claimed Wednesday that the president floated the proposal in a secret letter to the Islamic Republic's supreme leader.
The White House acknowledged the letter and reiterated that the door remains open for Iran to return to international talks over its nuclear program.
"It remains available to Iran to this day," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, adding that the U.S. position has not changed.
