Washington, Tehran Exchanging Views On Iraq

25 May 2004 -- The U.S. government says it has exchanged messages with the government of Iran regarding Tehran's concerns about Iraq.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher declined to comment yesterday on any specific messages Washington has received from the Islamic republic.

But Boucher said there has been an ongoing exchange of views on Iraq between the two countries for some time, particularly during a recent visit to Baghdad by Iranian officials.

Iran has voiced alarm in recent days at fighting around the Shi'ite holy cities of Al-Najaf and Karbala between U.S.-led coalition forces and the militia of Shi'a cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

(AFP)