By Country / Iran
Talabani Backs U.S.-Iran Talks On Iraq
March 19, 2006
President Jalal Talabani (file photo) (RFE/RL)
A statement from Talabani's office quotes the president as saying the issue of such talks was raised on a visit he made to Tehran a few months ago.
This week, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, said Tehran was ready to negotiate with Washington to help stabilize Iraq.
The White House has authorized U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad to speak with the Iranians on Iraq, but says the talks will not involve the crisis over Iran's disputed nuclear program.
U.S. officials, in the past, have accused Iran of meddling in Iraq to prolong the violence there. Iran has rejected this.
(Reuters, AFP)