Iran Says Obama Called for Direct Talks in "Red Line" Letter

An Iranian lawmaker has claimed that US President Barack Obama called for direct talks with Iran in the same letter that the Obama administration declared that closing the Strait of Hormuz is a "red line."

Ali Motahari told the semiofficial Fars news agency that "[in] the letter, Obama called for direct talks with Iran . . . The first part of the letter contains threats and the second part contains an offer for dialogue."

The White House would neither comment on the report nor confirm the letter Wednesday.