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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US and Iran to hold second talks | US and Iran to hold second talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Senior officials from the US and Iran are set to hold fresh talks on the security situation in Iraq, only their second bilateral meeting in 27 years. | Senior officials from the US and Iran are set to hold fresh talks on the security situation in Iraq, only their second bilateral meeting in 27 years. |
| The US envoy to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, will meet in Baghdad. | The US envoy to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, will meet in Baghdad. |
| The meeting will be a follow-up to the ground-breaking talks held on 28 May. | The meeting will be a follow-up to the ground-breaking talks held on 28 May. |
| The US blames Iran for supporting some of those who are attacking US and UK troops in Iraq, while Iran blames the US troop presence for Iraq's troubles. | The US blames Iran for supporting some of those who are attacking US and UK troops in Iraq, while Iran blames the US troop presence for Iraq's troubles. |
| The insurgency and related sectarian violence in Iraq are causing thousands of deaths every month. | |
| 'Change in behaviour' | 'Change in behaviour' |
| On Monday, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met separately with the two ambassadors to urge them to work together to improve his country's security. | On Monday, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met separately with the two ambassadors to urge them to work together to improve his country's security. |
| However, ahead of the talks the US and Iran continued to blame each other for the situation. | However, ahead of the talks the US and Iran continued to blame each other for the situation. |
| We are going to raise the need for Iran to match its actions with its words in seeking strategic stability in Iraq Sean McCormackUS State Department Spokesman Timeline: US-Iran ties | We are going to raise the need for Iran to match its actions with its words in seeking strategic stability in Iraq Sean McCormackUS State Department Spokesman Timeline: US-Iran ties |
| US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said Tehran had not taken any steps to bring about a stable Iraq since the talks in May. | US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said Tehran had not taken any steps to bring about a stable Iraq since the talks in May. |
| Mr McCormack said US intelligence showed Iran was continuing to stoke sectarian tensions and was still "providing assistance" to militias and death squads. | Mr McCormack said US intelligence showed Iran was continuing to stoke sectarian tensions and was still "providing assistance" to militias and death squads. |
| More than 200 US soldiers have been killed by armour piercing bombs, which the US says have been manufactured in Iran or made using Iranian-imported expertise. | More than 200 US soldiers have been killed by armour piercing bombs, which the US says have been manufactured in Iran or made using Iranian-imported expertise. |
| "We are going to raise the need for Iran to match its actions with its words in seeking strategic stability in Iraq," he said. | "We are going to raise the need for Iran to match its actions with its words in seeking strategic stability in Iraq," he said. |
| "We'll see if, as a result of these engagements, they will change their behaviour." | "We'll see if, as a result of these engagements, they will change their behaviour." |
| The US has also said it believes Iran may have been implicated in the capture of five Britons who were taken hostage in Baghdad two months ago. | The US has also said it believes Iran may have been implicated in the capture of five Britons who were taken hostage in Baghdad two months ago. |
| Differences | Differences |
| The Iranians, meanwhile, have called for the release of five of their citizens who were detained by US forces in Iraq in January. | The Iranians, meanwhile, have called for the release of five of their citizens who were detained by US forces in Iraq in January. |
| The US has said they are members of the elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), but Tehran says they are diplomats. | The US has said they are members of the elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), but Tehran says they are diplomats. |
| The BBC's Nicholas Witchell, in Baghdad, says that despite all the differences between the US and Iran, neither country wants the turmoil in Iraq to continue unchecked. | The BBC's Nicholas Witchell, in Baghdad, says that despite all the differences between the US and Iran, neither country wants the turmoil in Iraq to continue unchecked. |
| Analysts say the atmosphere could also be more promising because Iran is trying to prevent a new round of sanctions threatened over its controversial nuclear programme. | Analysts say the atmosphere could also be more promising because Iran is trying to prevent a new round of sanctions threatened over its controversial nuclear programme. |
| The US broke off relations with Iran in 1980 when Islamic revolutionaries seized the US embassy in Tehran and held many diplomats hostage. | The US broke off relations with Iran in 1980 when Islamic revolutionaries seized the US embassy in Tehran and held many diplomats hostage. |