Obama admits dialogue with Iran delayed indefinitely, derides Ahmadinejad

Debka

In another toughening of tone, US president Barack Obama admitted for the first time that "direct dialogue or diplomacy with Iran" would be "affected by the events of the last several weeks." After White House talks with German chancellor Angela Merkel, Friday, June 26, he said "the talks "compered by the P5-plus-1 group on Iran's nuclear program would likely continue." he said, because the world needs to recognize that the prospect of Iran with nuclear weapons was a "big problem."

DEBKAfile notes that Obama while praising opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, poured scorn on Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad s demand for an apology and accusations that the US president had meddled in Iran's internal affairs.

He stressed the US had gone out of its way not to interfere with the election process in Iran. "I would suggest that Mr. Ahmadinejad think carefully about the obligations he owes to his own people. And he might want to consider looking at the families of those who've been beaten or shot or detained…That's where I think he and others need to answer their questions."

In Tehran, a senior cleric called for the execution of dissidents for "declaring war on Allah."

Obama said Mousavi had "captured the imagination or spirit" of those within Iran who are "interested in opening up." He has become a representative of the people who've been demonstrating in the strees of Tehran with "extraordinary bravery."