IRAN: Iran still weighing Baghdad meeting invitation; says talks with U.S. 'not in agenda'

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said on Sunday (March 4) that meeting with the United States is not on the agenda - should Iran decide to attend an international meeting scheduled to take place in Baghdad next week. "The Americans recently have called Iran for talks on Iraqi issues especially on the security in that country (Iraq) through different channels and now we are reviewing their proposals and also meeting with them (Americans) on the sideline of the summit in Baghdad is not our agenda," Mohammad Ali Hosseini said during the ministry's weekly news conference. Hosseini said Iran is still considering whether or not to take part in the conference on March 10. "Iran will support any proposals for increased security for Iraq's government and if we decide , we will attend the (Baghdad) summit," Hosseini said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al -Maliki has called for an international meeting that would lay the foundations for increased international and regional cooperation in stabilising Iraq. He has invited neighbouring countries and world powers to the meeting that could open the way for the United States to talk to Syria and Iran, which Washington says are fuelling violence in Iraq. Both countries deny the accusations. The United States and Syria have said they would take part, while Iran said it was weighing the invitation. A full ministerial meeting is expected in April, Washington has said.

ITN Source | March 4, 2007

Tags:. .united. .still. .meeting. .al. .powers