Just two days after the US State Department made it clear that the Obama Administration was rejecting Iranian offers for direct talks, President Barack Obama decided to have his cake and eat it too, declaring his willingness to engage in hypothetical future talks with Iran.

During a meeting with a number of “senior media figures,” President Obama insisted that the sanctions against Iran were vindicated by the offer for talks, but insisted that no actual talks had happened yet. He did, however, claim “openness” to such talks.

But while Obama made vague references to a “path” toward talks, he also accused Iran of having an “ideological commitment to nuclear weapons” which was keeping them from abandoning their civilian program.

In fact Iran’s ideological commitment flows in the opposite direction, as their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued fatwas forbidding the nation from possessing or producing nuclear weapons. President Obama, by contrast, declared in April that he believes the United States has the inherent right to launch a nuclear first strike against Iran.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz

• No Deal: US Restarted Pakistan Drone Strikes Despite Objections - February 22nd, 2012
• Syrian National Council Demands Foreign Invasion - February 22nd, 2012
• State Dept.: Pakistani Taliban 'Not Welcome' at Truce Talks - February 22nd, 2012
• Israeli FM: Our Decision to Attack Iran None of US, Russia's Business - February 22nd, 2012
• Hunger Strike Ends, but Adnan's Detention Without Charges Doesn't - February 22nd, 2012