US confirms upcoming talks with Iran on Iraq
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (AFP): The United States confirmed Monday reports that it is planning a new round of talks with Iran on the future of war-ravaged Iraq, but that the two sides have yet to agree on a date.
"We do not yet have an agreed-upon date, but I think we're now trying to work on one that is mutually convenient and acceptable," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
McCormack said the meeting would not involve the countries' ambassadors, but likely would be "at the working group" level.
"Nothing's done until everything's done, and we'll let you know all the details of this, the date, location, and who's going to be attending," he said.
An unidentified Iranian official told an Iranian news agency this weekend that Iran and the United States would launch a new round to talks on Iraq in the coming week in Baghdad.
Tehran had requested a meeting with Washington to discuss Iraq's security but the talks, scheduled for December 18, were postponed, without a new date being set.
The gathering aims to explore ways of reducing violence in Iraq, and is expected to bring together diplomats, security experts and the military.
US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi Qomi previously met in Baghdad last May and July.
Washington, which broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran after the 1979 revolution, accuses Iran of sending weapons to Iraq and funding Iraqi Shiite extremist groups.
But Iran denies any involvement in violence in Iraq and believes that the withdrawal of American troops is the first step to a restoration of security in the country.
"We do not yet have an agreed-upon date, but I think we're now trying to work on one that is mutually convenient and acceptable," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
McCormack said the meeting would not involve the countries' ambassadors, but likely would be "at the working group" level.
"Nothing's done until everything's done, and we'll let you know all the details of this, the date, location, and who's going to be attending," he said.
An unidentified Iranian official told an Iranian news agency this weekend that Iran and the United States would launch a new round to talks on Iraq in the coming week in Baghdad.
Tehran had requested a meeting with Washington to discuss Iraq's security but the talks, scheduled for December 18, were postponed, without a new date being set.
The gathering aims to explore ways of reducing violence in Iraq, and is expected to bring together diplomats, security experts and the military.
US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi Qomi previously met in Baghdad last May and July.
Washington, which broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran after the 1979 revolution, accuses Iran of sending weapons to Iraq and funding Iraqi Shiite extremist groups.
But Iran denies any involvement in violence in Iraq and believes that the withdrawal of American troops is the first step to a restoration of security in the country.