exactly, and that is why many of us said it was a stupid thing to say back when he said itWhen you are sitting on the sidelines, it is easy to say Obama should be doing more. He doesn't want to give the supreme leader more reason to crack down on the protesters. If he encourages the revolt, then this is seen as a US orchstrated movement. If he doesn't encourage them, he is called spineless my the republicans. They can make many accusations, since their words mean very little.
Obama is measuring evey word he is saying. Pretty much a catch 22 position he is in. One in which he cannot win, as I see it.
Throwing down the statement, "with no preconditions" put him in the Catch 22 position.