Obama still open to Iran talks

WASHINGTON, June 15 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday he will pursue "tough, direct dialogue" with Iran despite the outbreak of violence after that country's elections.

Obama said he considers some of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statements "odious" and noted the two countries have deep differences "on a range of core issues."

Still, he said, "the use of tough, hard-headed diplomacy -- diplomacy with no illusions about Iran and the nature of the differences between our two countries -- is critical when it comes to pursuing a core set of our national security interests ... ."

Obama said specifically that means making sure there is not a nuclear arms race in the Middle East triggered by Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring that Iran is not exporting terrorism.

"Those are core interests not just to the United States but I think to a peaceful world in general," Obama said. "We will continue to pursue a tough, direct dialogue between our two countries, and we'll see where it takes us."

Despite those goals, he said "it would be wrong for me to be silent about what we've seen on the television over the last few days," referring to massive demonstrations protesting the outcome of Iran's election.

"And what I would say to those people who put so much hope and energy and optimism into the political process, I would say to them that the world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was," Obama said. "And they should know that the world is watching."