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Iran ready to resume talks with U.S.

DUBAI: Iran has said that it was ready to resume talks with the United States to improve security in Iraq.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said on Wednesday during a visit to Baghdad that his country was willing to respond positively to the U.S. call for resuming talks on Iraq. “About the readiness of the Americans for a new round of talks ... I respond that we do consider positively this initiative,” Mr. Mottaki said at a joint news conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Hoshyar Zebari.

“I had a positive response from [Mr. Mottaki] that the Islamic Republic is ready to continue the dialogue because this is a very useful and important channel for dialogue and helping the situation in Iraq,” Mr. Zebari said.

Mr. Mottaki denied Washington’s charge that Iran was involved in sending weapons to Iraqi fighters, which were used to kill American soldiers. “Unfortunately, U.S. officials and the government of the United States are lying to their people. The Islamic Republic of Iran is sorry for the killing of people of Iraq, even American soldiers,” Mr. Mottaki said.

Iran’s willingness to hold talks with the U.S. follows Washington’s recent decision to impose sanctions on Tehran.

Sanctions have been imposed against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has been designated as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction. Besides, the Qods force of the Guards has been labelled as a supporter of terrorism.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has just concluded a visit to Iran, where discussions on ways to tackle the PKK were high on the agenda.

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