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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US and Iran hold fresh Iraq talks | US and Iran hold fresh Iraq talks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Senior officials from the US and Iran are holding fresh talks on the security situation in Iraq, only their second bilateral meeting in 27 years. | Senior officials from the US and Iran are holding 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, are meeting in Baghdad. | The US envoy to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, are meeting in Baghdad. |
| The discussions are a follow-up to the ground-breaking talks held on 28 May. | The discussions are 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. | The insurgency and related sectarian violence in Iraq are causing thousands of deaths every month. |
| Separate talks | |
| The talks began with a heated exchange between the Iranian and US ambassadors, the Associated Press quotes an anonymous Iraqi official as saying. | |
| Mr Crocker charged the Iranians with providing training and weapons to the Shia militias behind violence in Baghdad and beyond, the AP reports. | |
| Mr Kazemi-Qomi reportedly brushed aside the allegations, saying that the US had no proof of its claims. | |
| On Monday, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani held separate talks with the two ambassadors to urge them to work together to improve his country's security. | On Monday, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani held separate talks 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 | |
| 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. |