Iran will join US at key meeting on Iraq

Iran will attend a conference of key powers including the US this week that will focus on stabilizing Iraq...

2 min readBaghdadApr 30, 2007 12:00 AM IST

Iran will attend a conference of key powers including the US this week that will focus on stabilizing Iraq, a meeting Baghdad said might be a turning point for regional cooperation in easing the violence.

Iraq8217;s Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Sunday there was a 8220;high possibility8221; arch foes Tehran and Washington would hold bilateral talks at the May 3-4 conference in Egypt, although not necessarily at the ministerial level.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who will attend the conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, said she would not rule out the possibility of meeting directly with Iran8217;s foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki.

8220;But what do we need to do? It8217;s quite obvious,8221; she told ABC television in

the US.

8220;Stop the flow of arms to foreign fighters. Stop the flow of foreign fighters across the borders8230;Stop stirring up trouble among militias that then go and kill innocent Iraqis. It8217;s quite clear what needs to be done.8221;

Tehran said its delegation headed by Mottaki would have the 8220;aim of helping the Iraqi nation and government8221;.

Washington accuses Iran of destabilising Iraq and US officials say Rice would probably limit any discussions to this.

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