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Iran agrees to Iraq talks with US US and Iran to hold talks on Iraq
(about 6 hours later)
Iran has agreed to hold new talks with the US on the situation in neighbouring Iraq, the country's foreign ministry spokesman has announced. Iran and the United States say they are to hold joint talks in Baghdad in the coming weeks on the situation in Iraq.
Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Tehran agreed in order to relieve the pain of the Iraqi people, to support their government and reinforce security. Iran said it agreed to meet to relieve the pain of the Iraqis, support their government and reinforce security.
The date and level of the talks will be made public by the end of the week. The White House said the talks, involving US ambassador Ryan Crocker, were aimed at ensuring Iran's "productive" role in Iraq.
The announcement comes after the two countries attended a conference on Iraq's security in Sharm el-Sheikh.The announcement comes after the two countries attended a conference on Iraq's security in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Tehran has agreed to hold negotiations with Washington to relieve the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people Mohammad Hosseini Timeline: US-Iran ties
At the summit of world and regional powers at the Egyptian resort, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki blamed the US presence in Iraq for the continuing sectarian violence.At the summit of world and regional powers at the Egyptian resort, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki blamed the US presence in Iraq for the continuing sectarian violence.
Hopes of bilateral talks following the meeting appeared dashed after the two countries' respective foreign ministers refused to meet.Hopes of bilateral talks following the meeting appeared dashed after the two countries' respective foreign ministers refused to meet.
The US and Iran have not had diplomatic relations since Washington severed ties with Tehran after Iranian students occupied the US embassy there and took 52 Americans hostage in 1979.The US and Iran have not had diplomatic relations since Washington severed ties with Tehran after Iranian students occupied the US embassy there and took 52 Americans hostage in 1979.
'Strong enough''Strong enough'
Before the talks announcement, Mr Hosseini had said Iran had told the US that any proposal for talks on Iraq must go through the proper channel - the Swiss Embassy which handles US interests in Tehran. "You could expect a meeting in the next few weeks with Ambassador Crocker and Iranians. The purpose is to try to make sure that the Iranians play a productive role in Iraq," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Tehran has agreed to hold negotiations with Washington to relieve the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people Mohammad Hosseini class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3362443.stm">Timeline: US-Iran ties "This is an ongoing process of trying to make sure that Iraq's neighbours, of which Iran is obviously a major one, play a constructive role," he said.
But speaking to reporters at his weekly news conference on Saturday, Mr Hosseini said his government had agreed to a meeting following consultations with Iraqi officials. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said his government had agreed to a meeting following consultations with Iraqi officials.
"Tehran has agreed to hold negotiations with Washington to relieve the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people, support and strengthen the government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and stabilise security and peace in that country," he said."Tehran has agreed to hold negotiations with Washington to relieve the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people, support and strengthen the government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and stabilise security and peace in that country," he said.
"Iran has formally taken the issue [of negotiation] into consideration.""Iran has formally taken the issue [of negotiation] into consideration."
Mr Hosseini said the talks would be held in Iraq, but that the date and level of the negotiations had yet to be determined.Mr Hosseini said the talks would be held in Iraq, but that the date and level of the negotiations had yet to be determined.
Iran's president recently declared Iran was now strong enough to talk to America - a reference to Teheran's progress in developing nuclear technology, the BBC's Frances Harrison, in Tehran, says.Iran's president recently declared Iran was now strong enough to talk to America - a reference to Teheran's progress in developing nuclear technology, the BBC's Frances Harrison, in Tehran, says.