Details Emerge of President
Obama's Letter to Tehran
Days ago it was revealed that
President Obama had sent a letter to Tehran warning of the danger of an Iranian
shut-down of the Straight of Hormuz, through which a
large portion of the world's oil passes. According to this news item from
Iran's state-controlled Mehr News Agency, a number of Iranian officials
privy to its contents have spoken to the press.
TEHRAN: A number of Iranian
officials have released details of a letter U.S. President Barack Obama
recently sent to Tehran.
The New York Times, citing U.S. government officials, wrote on January 12
that the Obama Administration had sent a message to Supreme Leader of the
Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, warning that closing the
Strait of Hormuz is a “red line” that would provoke a
response by the United States.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Ramin Mehmanparsat said on January 15 that U.S. officials had indeed handed the
Islamic Republic a message through three officials, noting, “U.S. Ambassador to
the U.N. Susan Rice delivered a letter to the Islamic Republic’s U.N. Ambassador
Mohammad Khazaee; the Swiss ambassador to Tehran [LiviaLeuAgosti];
and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani,
who then conveyed the message to Islamic Republic officials as well.”
Obama calls for negotiations
On Wednesday, Majlis Member
Ali Motahhari said, “In the letter, it was stated
that ‘closing the Strait of Hormuz is our red line,’
and they requested direct negotiations. … Obama expressed a readiness for
negotiation and a resolution of our mutual disagreements.”
Motahhari went on to say that Obama uttered threats in the
first half of the letter and spoke of friendship and negotiation in the second.
Obama says U.S. will not take hostile action against
Iran
Also on Wednesday, Majlis
Member Hojjatoleslam Hossein
Ebrahimi said, “Obama’s letter has several parts. Part
of it is about this, namely that all countries have the right to use
international waterways - and that all countries should benefit from them. And
in the letter, he described this as America's red line.”
Ebrahimi, deputy chairman of the Majlis National Security and
Foreign Policy Committee, told the Nasimonline, “Obama
mentioned cooperation and negotiation based on mutual interest. He stated that
they [the U.S.] will take no hostile action against the Islamic Republic of
Iran.”
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by WORLDMEETS.US
Ebrahimi added, “This isn't the first time Obama has sent the
Islamic Republic a message and letter. He has repeatedly spoken about Iran in
soft tones, but in practice he has acted differently. … Obama’s letter suggests
that the U.S. has grown afraid of the military might of the Islamic Republic and
that has realized the futility of having an arrogant spirit. That is why Obama
has softened his tone when speaking about the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Ebrahimi also said, “The important issue here is that without
the permission of the Islamic Republic of Iran, no country can benefit from the
Persian Gulf.”
Iran responsible for maintaining security of Persian
Gulf
Expediency Discernment Council
Secretary Mohsen Rezaii also commented
on the letter on Wednesday, saying, “Mr. Obama has
written a cunning letter that intended to claim that the U.S. is responsible
for maintaining security in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz,
when it is Iran that is responsible for maintaining security in this region.”
“With the help of other
nearby countries, we maintain security in the region,” he said, adding, “There
is no need for the presence of extra-regional forces. … We believe that the
presence of the United States and Britain creates and does not diminish insecurity.”
If they “feel compassion” for
countries in this region and wants to help them enhance security, “I would advise
them to leave,” Rezaii said.
