Iran - US new talks on Iraq; al-Sadr denies visit
Iraq-Iran-USA, Politics, 7/9/2007

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari today invited Iranian and the US officials to resume second round of talks on Iraq security. He extended the invitation in a press conference in the aftermath of consular meeting with five Iranian diplomats being kept in Baghdad.

The US forces kidnapped five Iranian diplomats from Iranian consulate general in Erbil, Iraq last January.

Expressing satisfaction with the continued talks, he said the Iraqi government welcomes resumption of talks which kicked off one month ago.

He expressed the hope that the upcoming meeting would help ease tension in Iraq.

He underlined that the Iraqi government and its foreign ministry strive to hold diplomatic meeting with the five Iranian diplomats.

Baghdad calls for intensive dialogue between Iran and the US on Iraqi developments, he said.

"I assume that the recent meeting between Iran's ambassador with five kidnapped diplomats would help resume these talks." He said Iraq believes that after the first round of talks between Iran and the US on Iraq the two sides are more willing to resume such talks.

No specific time has been designated for the second round of talks, he pointed out.

On torture of Iranian diplomats, he said according to the reports on early days of abduction, the Iranian diplomats were exposed to torture. "But we do not know to what extent."

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad said today that fuel rationing was a timely and proper tactic which helped thwart enemies' conspiracies. This in reference to the UN sanctions on Iran promoted principally by the USA.

"Our enemies were masterminding a plot to threat us with fuel boycott which was neutralized by fuel rationing," he said.

Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Sunday also called for national solidarity to foil enemies' plots. "At this critical juncture when the foes speak about economic sanctions, we should preserve unity," he said.

On the second round of talks between Iran and the US on Iraq security, President Ahmadi-Nejad said "We spare no efforts to help the Iraqi nation." Iran is determined to render any type of assistance to help restore peace and security to Iraq, he said.

Iran's Foreign Ministry will intensify diplomatic efforts to free the diplomats abducted by the US forces in Iraq, Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Reza Bagheri said today.

Bagheri told IRNA that the five diplomats, who were kidnapped at Iran's consulate general in Erbil, Iraq, have been behind bars of single cells for some time.

The deputy FM for Arab and African Affairs said the US is likely to put aside a series of allegations it has fabricated against Iran ranging from encouraging tension by arms delivery to the warring groups and supporting the Iraqi democratic government.

Responding to a question on the issue of holding the second round of Iran-US talks on Iraq, he noted that Iran has not yet put the negotiations on its agenda, but it is ready to hold discussions to help Iraqi people.

Bagheri further dismissed the alleged visit to Iran of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Also, member of Iraqi al-Sadr faction rejected today alleged visit to Iran of Moqtada al-Sadr. Speaking in a televised interview with the Arabic-language TV, al-Arabiya, Abdel Razzaq al-Nadawi said the alleged visit of al-Sadr to Iran "was another rumor spread by the US forces who want to sow discord among al-Sadr's ranks."

He said that the previous rumor on al-Sadr's visit to Iran two months ago had also been mounted by the US forces in Iraq. Al-Nadawi said the US forces spread such rumors against the al-Sadr movement after the al-Sadr's forces made "some victories" in Karbala and Diwaniyah districts in Iraq.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Seucirty Council Ali Larijani on Sunday met and conferred with a group of Iraqi university scholars. During the meeting, cooperation in scientific fields, exchange of professors and students and also providing opportunities for Iraqi universities to benefit from Iran's scientific and research capabilities were discussed.

Larijani told the Iraqi group that Iran is ready by all means to help Iraq establish internal security and make progress. He added that Iraq enjoys great human and natural resources and can quickly become a developed state in the region.

Larijani remarked that the occupying forces have created discord among Shiites and Sunnis during past four years and are bent on looting Iraq's wealth instead of establishing security in the country.
Larijani said that unity among Shiites and Sunnis and steadfastness on the divine path is the most important factor which will eventually save the Iraqi people.

Previous Stories:
  Iran holds up US talks on Iraq till clarifications are made   (7/2/2007)
  Iran denies US allegations of military interference in Iraq   (7/2/2007)
  Iran demands contact with five US kidnapped diplomats in Iraq   (6/12/2007)

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