DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - U.S.A./IRAN/IRAQ: A 2ND MEETING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES & IRAN IS BEING PLANNED

Official: 2nd meeting planned with U.S., Iran on Iraqi security
By EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) Iraq is planning a second meeting with American and Iranian officials on improving security in the war-torn nation as a follow up to talks last month that broke a 27-year diplomatic freeze, Iraq's foreign minister said Thursday.

Hoshyar Zebari said in an interview with The Associated Press that he thinks the meeting will take place in weeks rather than months hopefully with more senior officials than the ambassadors who met in Baghdad on May 28 to give the new talks "more clout.''

"Having the meeting take place for the first time in 27 years in Iraq and on one subject that's Iraqi security I think was a major breakthrough,'' Zebari said.

He said Iraq is already discussing the time and venue of the next gathering with both sides and will soon invite them to participate.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki indirectly signaled Iran's interest in continuing the talks after discussions Sunday in Tehran with Iraqi deputy prime minister, Barham Salih.

But U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was more cautious, saying in an AP interview last Friday that "we haven't determined when and if it makes sense.'' She said Iran's recent detention of at least four Americans is unwarranted but will not stop Washington from trying to engage Iran on other matters, including its disputed nuclear program and alleged support of insurgents in Iraq.

Mottaki said Iran was also willing to continue talks despite the U.S. detention of five Iranian officials in Iraq in January. The U.S. military has said the Iranians are suspected of links to a network supplying arms to insurgents an accusation that Iran has denied, insisting they were diplomats.

Iraq has appealed for the release of the Iranians and Zebari said "we are hopeful they would be released, especially during June.'' That's when their status will be reviewed by the U.S. military because they have been detained for six months, he said.

Zebari said releasing the Iranians will help "in confidence building'' and preparing the ground for further U.S.-Iranian discussions.

"We are hopeful that the Americans have got our message,'' he said.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Official: 2nd meeting planned with U.S., Iran on Iraqi security