• Obama would engage in direct talks with Tehran including offering some
economic incentives if Iran stopped operations in Iraq and cooperated on
nuclear issues.
 
• He has refused to say if he would consider military action if Iran were not
abandon its nuclear weapons program.
 
• Obama said he continued to favor an incentive package that is aimed at
getting Iran to drop its nuclear ambitions.

• He proposed a resolution in the Senate to reverse designation of Iran's
Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

• Obama accused McCain and President Bush of what he called dishonest and
divisive attacks over his willingness to talk to Iran.  Without mentioning
Obama's name, President Bush compared those who would negotiate with terrorists
and radicals, to the appeasers of Nazi Germany prior to the Second World War.

• In July 2008, Iran test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles that
Iranian officials said were aimed at showing the country’s ability to counter
Israeli or American attacks.  Obama responded, “I would want to talk to the
national security team to find out whether this indicates any new capabilities
on Iran’s part. At this point, the reports aren’t clear. It’s still early, but
I think what this underscores is the need for us to create a kind of policy
that is putting the burden on Iran to change behavior. And, frankly, we just
have not been able to do that over the last several years, partly because we’re
not engaged in direct diplomacy.”  He also stated that Iran is a ‘grave threat’
and that we should gather our allies together in a serious effort to apply
sanctions in Iran.  He noted that American exports to Iran have increased
during the Bush years.