Iranian readiness to negotiate Washington over Iraq 's future

Iran yesterday expressed readiness to negotiate with the USA in order to solve the problem in Iraq and form "an independent and free government" in it.

Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, told journalists after a speech he had delivered before his country's parliament that Tehran had accepted the call made by the chairman of the Higher Council Of The Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, to help settle the Iraqi issues.

Larijani explained that the Iraqi authorities will appoint a negotiation team later in order to start the talks shortly, stressing that talks with the American side will be only limited in scope to the subject of Iraq.

On Wednesday Hakim called on Iran to open a dialogue with Washington for the "interests" of the Iraqi people.

A source close to Abdul Aziz quoted him as saying during a speech he had delivered in the eulogy of victims of the explosions of al-Sader city which took place last Sunday that it is not acceptable that Iraq will be converted to a base for conspiracy against the neighboring states, stressing the need of evacuating the country from the terrorist groups which have problems with the neighboring states.

Today, Larijani said, "Iran's motive behind assistance to the Iraqi nation is helping establishment of lasting security in Iraq, and helping it get rid of the occupiers' tyranny... and there is no other hidden issue in that connection. We insist speaking openly and once again announce that we are ready to help install an independent state in Iraq."