Today in Baghdad American and Iranian delegates will meet for a second time. It is a diplomatic encounter, but tensions between the two nations remain high, each blaming the other for the escalation of violence in Iraq.

Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In programme today in Baghdad the second round of talks between Iran and the United States on security in Iraq.  Taking part in the face to face talks, US ambassador Ryan Crocker and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi-Qomi.

Iraqi sources relate that the discussions would be at the ambassadorial level and would stay focused on the situation in Iraq and not tensions between US and Iran, “delinquent state” and “great evil”. Tensions also have risen over Tehran's detention of four Iranian-American scholars and activists charged with endangering national security. The US has demanded their release, saying the charges against them are false. At the same time, Iran has called for the release of five Iranians detained in Iraq, whom the US has said are the operations chief and other members of Iran's elite Quds Force, which is accused of arming and training fighters in Iraq. Iran says the five are diplomats in Iraq with permission from the government

The US also said Iran had not scaled back what Washington alleges is a concerted effort to arm fighters and harm US troops, while Iran blames the US troop presence for Iraq's troubles..

Sean McCormack, a spokesman for the US state department “said the US wanted to use the meeting to warn Iran against continuing its support for fighters, but offered no explanation for the apparent change of heart about meeting Tehran. Analysts say the atmosphere could also be more promising because Iran is trying to prevent a new round of sanctions threatened over its controversial nuclear programme promoted by the government of Ahmadinejad.     

 

• IRAN
• IRAQ
• USA
• ARMS
• SECURITY
• VIOLENCE
• TENSIONS
• DIPLOMACY
• SEAN
• MCCORMAK