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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| US and Iran in key Baghdad talks | US and Iran in key Baghdad talks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Iran and the US have held their first bilateral public talks for almost 30 years. Iraq's security was the only item on the agenda. | |
| The US and Iranian envoys in Baghdad, Ryan Crocker and Hassan Kazemi Qomi, were locked in talks for four hours. | |
| The US was expected to present claims that Iran is providing technology and other support to Iraqi militia groups. | |
| Tehran was to remind the US that as occupiers of Iraq they have a legal responsibility to bring security. | |
| The talks come a day after Tehran said it had uncovered several spy networks run by the US and its allies inside Iran. | The talks come a day after Tehran said it had uncovered several spy networks run by the US and its allies inside Iran. |
| Iranian authorities have summoned the Swiss ambassador to demand an explanation of the networks, which Iranian TV said were seeking to commit "infiltration and sabotage". | Iranian authorities have summoned the Swiss ambassador to demand an explanation of the networks, which Iranian TV said were seeking to commit "infiltration and sabotage". |
| Switzerland represents US interests in Iran. | Switzerland represents US interests in Iran. |
| The White House said it did not confirm or deny allegations about intelligence matters. | The White House said it did not confirm or deny allegations about intelligence matters. |
| No pre-conditions | No pre-conditions |
| The Iranian-US meeting was the first formal bilateral meeting since the two countries broke off relations in 1980, after the Iranian revolution and the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran. | |
| Crocker and Qomi are representing their countries in BaghdadThe US has backed away from the conditions it first set for such a meeting, says the BBC's Paul Reynolds - which included support from Tehran for the government in Baghdad. | Crocker and Qomi are representing their countries in BaghdadThe US has backed away from the conditions it first set for such a meeting, says the BBC's Paul Reynolds - which included support from Tehran for the government in Baghdad. |
| Ahead of the meeting, the Iraqi prime minister described the event as "the beginning of a good chapter and an important step for the region". | Ahead of the meeting, the Iraqi prime minister described the event as "the beginning of a good chapter and an important step for the region". |
| Mr Maliki said any progress made would "enhance the bridges of trust" between the US and Iran and "create a positive atmosphere" that would help them deal with other issues. | Mr Maliki said any progress made would "enhance the bridges of trust" between the US and Iran and "create a positive atmosphere" that would help them deal with other issues. |
| In Tehran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told state radio that the fact the US now wanted to talk to Iran about Iraq was a sign of progress. | In Tehran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told state radio that the fact the US now wanted to talk to Iran about Iraq was a sign of progress. |
| "The Iranian nation has taken another step forward and, God willing, more giant strides are awaiting," he said. | "The Iranian nation has taken another step forward and, God willing, more giant strides are awaiting," he said. |
| Mr Crocker was expected to press claims that Iran is supporting Shia and Sunni militias attacking US and British forces in Iraq, by supplying them with bomb-making equipment and training. | |
| 'Soured relations' | 'Soured relations' |
| Iran's position on the talks was been dictated by the country's ultimate authority - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. | |
| He said the aim of the meeting was to remind the American occupiers of Iraq that they had a legal responsibility to bring security to the country. Tehran was also expected to call for a timetable for a US withdrawal from Iraq. | |
| Ayatollah Khamenei says the US government is colonial, bullying, arrogant and expansionist. | Ayatollah Khamenei says the US government is colonial, bullying, arrogant and expansionist. |
| The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says that although the talks were symbolically important, there was little chance of any dramatic breakthrough. | |
| The talks come at a time of growing tensions between Washington and Tehran over a range of issues, including Iran's continuing defiance of international pressure and sanctions over its nuclear programme. | The talks come at a time of growing tensions between Washington and Tehran over a range of issues, including Iran's continuing defiance of international pressure and sanctions over its nuclear programme. |
| The nuclear issue will not be under discussion at these talks. | The nuclear issue will not be under discussion at these talks. |
| Another source of tension has been the recent arrests in Iran of a number of Iranian Americans. Tehran accuses them of spying and says US intelligence is trying to undermine the Islamic authorities. | Another source of tension has been the recent arrests in Iran of a number of Iranian Americans. Tehran accuses them of spying and says US intelligence is trying to undermine the Islamic authorities. |