Iran agrees to US-Iraq talks
Iran and the US have blamed each other for violence in Iraq
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Tuesday, 20, Nov 2007 03:06
Iran has agreed to discuss security measures in Iraq with the United States, the middle eastern country's foreign minister announced today.
A request for discussions from the US was made via the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which represents America's interests in Iran.
Three rounds of talks have been held between ambassadors for the US and Iran in Baghdad since May.
"The Swiss embassy in Tehran has handed over to Iran a message from the US government for a new round of talks concerning Iraq," said Iran's foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
He added that the talks would be held in the near future.
Tensions between the two countries have remained fraught, with accusations made on both sides about who is responsible for violence in post-war Iraq.
The US has accused Iran of supporting Shi'ite extremists in Iraq by providing funding, training and arms to target US troops, which has been denied by the Middle Eastern country.
Iran has instead said that the occupying forces are to blame for the violence.