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Iran: US exit key to Iraq peace Iran: US exit key to Iraq peace
(about 6 hours later)
US troops must leave Iraq if security is to be restored, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said during talks with the Iraqi president. US troops must leave Iraq if security is to be restored, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said during talks with the Iraqi president.
The instability of Iraq was detrimental to all countries in the region and the US had no hope of improving the situation, Ayatollah Khamenei said. He said the US was powerless to stop the unrest in Iraq, which was also bad for other countries in the region.
President Jalal Talabani is in Tehran to try to secure Iran's help in curbing the escalating violence in Iraq. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in turn called on Iran to stop backing Shia militias and support Iraq's government instead, Iraq's foreign minister said.
The US is also interested in involving Iran, but it is unclear at what price. US President George W Bush has again ruled out removing US troops from Iraq.
On his way to a Nato summit in Latvia, President Bush said in order for the US to open a dialogue with Iran, the Iranians would have to "verifiably suspend" its nuclear fuel enrichment programme, which could be used in weapons production. "I am not going to pull our troops off the battlefield before the mission is complete," he told an audience in Latvia, where he is attending a Nato summit.
But although Washington may find it awkward seeing Iran as a growing powerbroker in Iraq, correspondents say, direct talks between Iran and Iraq to resolve the crisis may to some extent let the Bush administration off the hook. The occupation of Iraq is not a morsel that the US can swallow Ayatollah Khamenei href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/iran_power/html/default.stm" class="">Iran: Who holds power?
'Civil war' He earlier dismissed suggestions that the violence in Iraq amounted to a civil war, saying it was product of al-Qaeda's strategy to ignite sectarian strife in the country.
On Monday, Mr Talabani held talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who said Iran was ready to do whatever it could. He also said the US would only open a dialogue with Iran if it showed it had suspended a uranium enrichment programme which can be used in weapons production.
We are in dire need of Iran's help in establishing security and stability in Iraq Jalal Talabani href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/iran_power/html/default.stm" class="">Iran: Who holds power? Mr Ahmadinejad also stressed that a secure, progressive and powerful Iraq was in the interests of Iran and the whole region. While Washington may find it awkward seeing Iran as a growing powerbroker in Iraq, correspondents say, direct talks between Iran and Iraq to resolve the crisis may to some extent let the Bush administration off the hook.
'US must leave'
Ayatollah Khamenei said the US would not succeed in its aims in Iraq.
"The occupation of Iraq is not a morsel that the US can swallow," he said.
He said the US must leave Iraq if security is to be restored.
"The first step to resolve the instability in Iraq is the withdrawal of occupiers from this country and the transfer of security responsibilities to the popular Iraqi government," he reportedly said.
If asked by the Iraqi government, he said, Iran "won't spare any effort to contribute to stability and security in Iraq".
According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, President Talabani had urged his Iranian hosts to divert their aid to the government in Baghdad rather than to diverse groups, including Shia militias.
Mr Zebari told the BBC the Iraqi government message had been that the stakes were too high and Iran should do more to ensure the current administration did not fail.
He also said he detected some willingness on the part of the Iranians to address the issue of direct talks with the US over Iraq.
On Monday, Mr Talabani held talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who said Iran was ready to do whatever it could to help Iraq.
Last year Mr Talabani, a Farsi speaker, became the first Iraqi head of state to visit Tehran in almost four decades.Last year Mr Talabani, a Farsi speaker, became the first Iraqi head of state to visit Tehran in almost four decades.
"The issue of establishing security in Iraq is the most important part of our talks. We are in dire need of Iran's help in establishing security and stability in Iraq," Mr Talabani was quoted as saying on Iran's state-run TV.
The past week has been one of the bloodiest in Iraq since the American-led invasion in 2003.
On Monday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters in New York that drastic action was needed to prevent a civil war.