forum last week in which former secretaries of state discussed several topics , including Iran , and the presidential candidates disagreed over what Kissinger had said . The exchange started with McCain criticizing Obama for stating in two previous debates that he would sit down with Ahmadinejad , Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuban President Raúl Castro `` without precondition . '' McCain , the Republican nominee , said that in the past , U.S. presidents such as Ronald Reagan refused to meet with adversaries until a Cabinet member , such as the secretary of state , had several talks . `` Look , I 'll sit down with anybody , but there 's got to be preconditions , '' McCain said . Watch the candidates debate policy in Iran '' Obama responded by claiming that Kissinger , `` along with five recent secretaries of state , just said we should meet with Iran , guess what , without preconditions . '' McCain denied the claim : `` Dr. Kissinger did not say that he would approve a face-to-face meeting '' with Ahmadinejad . `` He did say there could be secretary and lower-level meetings . '' Obama defended his
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- After Friday night 's presidential debate , former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger defended Sen. John McCain 's attack against Sen. Barack Obama for Obama 's willingness to meet with the Iranian president `` without precondition . '' Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger says he is not in favor of negotiations with Iran at the presidential level . Immediately after the debate , the McCain campaign released a statement from Kissinger backing the Republican nominee 's sentiments on structuring any talks with Iran . `` Sen. McCain is right . I would not recommend the next president of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the presidential level , '' Kissinger said in the statement . `` My views on this issue are entirely compatible with the views of my friend Sen. John McCain . We do not agree on everything , but we do agree that any negotiations with Iran must be geared to reality . '' McCain and Obama sparred during the debate over how to best handle relations with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad , who has repeatedly threatened Israel . Both candidates referenced Kissinger 's comments from a CNN