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Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said on Sunday that Tehran has received a letter from the US which sought to resolve a dispute between the two countries.
“There has been a message from American officials,” the spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseni, told reporters at a press conference in Tehran.
Hosseini did not provide any information on the content of the note, or identify the US officials who sent it, saying only that Tehran was “studying” the note.
“In the message, (they) want to ease the current case, which was unfortunately complicated because of policies of the US and some other countries’ officials,” Hosseini said.
Hosseini’s wording indicated the case was that of the arrests earlier this month of five Iranians in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, at an Iranian mission there.
While Tehran has claimed the five, detained by US army, were diplomats and protested their arrests, Washington contends the men had been connected to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard faction that funds and arms Iraqi insurgents.
Washington has accused Iran of meddling in Iraqi affairs and contributing technology and bomb-making materials for insurgents to use against US and Iraqi security forces. This week, the US administration authorised the use of more force against Iranians in Iraq who pose a threat.
Iran denies it has interfered in Iraq or provided weapons to insurgents. Asked about the detained Iranians, Hosseini said that Iran has been working to secure their release, through contacts with Saudi Arabia and Iraq officials.
