US, Iran to meet in days for Iraq security talks

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

Iranian and U.S. officials will meet within days in Baghdad for a new round of talks as part of efforts to build on recent progress in stemming sectarian violence, Iraq's foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Hoshiyar Zebari also said he was confident Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would go to Iraq next month, a visit that would be the first by a leader of the Islamic Republic but which could also irritate the United States.

Washington, at odds with Tehran over its nuclear programme, wants Shi'ite Muslim Iran to use its influence with militias from the same sect in Iraq to stem attacks on U.S. forces and Sunni Muslim groups, which are deepening the cycle of sectarian violence in the country.

Iran denies arming and training militias fighting U.S. forces in Iraq, where violence has dropped sharply from levels 18 months ago, largely due to extra U.S. troops, Iranian cooperation to stabilise its neighbour and the emergence of American-backed Sunni militia.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L12115969.htm

[cliss]

1. Interesting.

I noticed the saber-rattling rhetoric has quieted down lately....at least for the moment.

[ohio2007]

2. a chess game. Not sure how the media will cover it

;)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3178518


But somebody will go in with a couple of bargaining chips