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Obama's secret message to Iran?

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    President reportedly makes backdoor diplomacy effort to avoid military confrontation

  • Duration 2:21
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President Obama's efforts to avoid a military confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program.

Chief Washington correspondent James Rosen on the lines of communication.

It was on this occasion in South Korea last month that President Obama secretly asked Turkish Prime Minister race appear to want to deliver a private message to the Iranian regime so reports veteran Washington Post columnist David Ignatius who's enjoyed privileged access to and classified leaks from senior US officials across several presidencies.

Ignatius says that when heir to one met with the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran last week the Turkish leader conveyed president Obama's message.

But the US can accept a nuclear Iran if Tehran can prove its nuclear program is for energy and not weapons.

White House officials would neither confirm nor deny the report.

But to -- such a message to Iran is it hardly need private channels.

They are entitled to peaceful civilian.

Nuclear power.

They are not entitled to nuclear weapons in fact it's -- US policy for the better part of a decades we have promised to support a peaceful.

Civilian nuclear program.

America will not allow Iran.

To develop a nuclear weapon.

The latest reported overture comes ahead of a planned resumption of big power talks with Tehran later this month over its nuclear program.

Which has provoked international sanctions and aroused concerns among UN nuclear inspectors about the program having a -- military dimension.

The United States wants Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations.

Sixty days into his presidency mr.

Obama began his attempts to engage Iran.

But the regime since then has brutally suppressed a democratic uprising maintained its support of mideast terror groups and continue to Stonewall the UN's nuclear watchdog agency.

Experts pondered what could still come from president Obama's enduring commitment to engagement.

Even if there isn't progressing in the talks and even if the Turkish channel of -- and it's not working.

I think he -- he and his administration.

Will continue to try.

-- keep kicking the can down the road if you centrally elections.

Hobbling the effort to resume the nuclear talks has been disagreement over basic logistical details like where to meet.

Iran has suggested no doubt sarcastically that a suitable location -- the talks would be Baghdad or Damascus.

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