Clinton deplores Iran's actions but offers to talk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday deplored Iran's crushing of dissent after June's election but said the Obama administration still wanted talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.

In what the State Department billed as a major foreign policy speech, Clinton said neither she nor President Barack Obama had illusions that such a dialogue would guarantee success and said the opportunity for talks was not open-ended.

"But we also understand the importance of trying to engage Iran and offering its leaders a clear choice -- whether to join the international community as a responsible member or to continue down a path to further isolation," Clinton said.

"Direct talks provide the best vehicle for presenting and explaining that choice," added Clinton.

The State Department released in advance excerpts of the speech, which was to be delivered to the Council on Foreign Relations later in the day.

So far, Iran has not responded to appeals for talks with the United States and other major powers seeking to convince Tehran to give up sensitive nuclear work the West believes is aimed at building a bomb and Iran says is to generate power.

Clinton has said the United States watched last month's election in Iran with great admiration but was "appalled" by the manner in which the government used violence to quell protesters who disputed the result.

"As we ... have made clear, these actions are deplorable and unacceptable," said Clinton.

(Reporting by Sue Pleming; Editing by David Storey)