Iran says Obama sought direct talks

 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.

 Conservative lawmaker Ali Motahari made his assertion 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.”

 In Washington, an Obama administration official denied that Obama sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying communication of U.S. views were being delivered through other diplomatic messages. The official would give no further details.