Monday, May 28, 2007
U.S.-Iran security talks on Iraq start
Politics, Region, Security
(RFE/RL) - U.S. and Iranian diplomats today opened talks in Baghdad focused on stabilizing Iraq. The talks -- between the U.S. and Iranian ambassadors to Iraq, Ryan Crocker and Hassan Kazemi-Qomi -- mark the highest-level official bilateral talks between the United States and Iran since diplomatic ties between the two countries were broken 27 years ago, after Iran's Islamic Revolution and the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
Officials have said the talks will focus on Iraq only, and no discussion is expected on the Iranian nuclear program. Concerning the situation in Iraq, the United States has accused Iran of fomenting violence there by arming and funding militias. Iran has said that peace cannot emerge in Iraq until U.S. forces leave.
Ahead of the meeting, Iran on May 27 accused the United States of operating "spy networks" seeking to commit sabotage on Iranian territory. Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Swiss ambassador to Tehran, who represents U.S. interests in Iran, to condemn what it said was U.S. intelligence services' "hostile interference" in Iran's affairs.
The United States has said it does not respond to allegations about intelligence matters. On May 26, Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said the United States must change its strategy in Iraq and admit its "wrong policies" there if the talks are to succeed.
Officials have said the talks will focus on Iraq only, and no discussion is expected on the Iranian nuclear program. Concerning the situation in Iraq, the United States has accused Iran of fomenting violence there by arming and funding militias. Iran has said that peace cannot emerge in Iraq until U.S. forces leave.
Ahead of the meeting, Iran on May 27 accused the United States of operating "spy networks" seeking to commit sabotage on Iranian territory. Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Swiss ambassador to Tehran, who represents U.S. interests in Iran, to condemn what it said was U.S. intelligence services' "hostile interference" in Iran's affairs.
The United States has said it does not respond to allegations about intelligence matters. On May 26, Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said the United States must change its strategy in Iraq and admit its "wrong policies" there if the talks are to succeed.
Labels: Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran, Iraq, Ryan Crocker, U.S.
