Obama ‘has written to Ayatollah’

US President Barack Obama has called for direct talks with Iran in a secret letter to the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, that also warned Tehran against closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a conservative Iranian MP has said.

White House officials denied there was such a letter.

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

Conservative MP Ali Motahari revealed the content of the letter yesterday 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,” Mr Motahari was quoted as saying. “The letter also said that closing the Strait of Hormuz is [Washington’s] red line.”

He added: “The first part of the letter contains threats and the second part contains an offer for dialogue.”

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast confirmed Tehran had received the letter and was considering a possible response.

US military officials have been clear that Washington is readying for a possible naval clash in the event of the strait being blocked by Iran.