Iran rejects Iraq talks with US for now

Iraqi guards push journalists back as Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshya Zebari (C) enters with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki into the Iraqi foreign ministry in Baghdad yesterday. Mottaki confirmed his country's decision not to hold direct talks with the United States over the situation in Iraq. PHOTO: AFP

Iran's initial acceptance of talks had been exploited for propaganda by the United States, and Tehran had therefore decided to suspend its decision to take part, he told a news conference.

"Unfortunately, the American side tried to use this decision as propaganda and they raised some other issues. They tried to create a negative atmosphere and that's why the decision which was taken for the time being is suspended," Mottaki said.

He was speaking after meeting his Iraqi counterpart during a visit to Baghdad that turned attention on Tehran's role in its US-occupied neighbour hours after President George W. Bush admitted mistakes in his Iraq policy.

He was also due to meet Iraq's new prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, less than a week after the Shia Islamist formed his national unity government and pledged to curb the kind of violence that saw a bomb kill nine people in Baghdad on Friday.

Washington has said it is open to talks about stabilising the country with Iran, with which the United States has no diplomatic relations.

US officials, who were not immediately available for comment on Friday, say they want Iraq to have good relations with Iran but reject any attempt to create a Shia Islamic state in Iraq.

In April, Washington said talks with Iran were on hold as Iraq's government was being formed. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also said last month there was no need for such talks for the time being.

Mottaki's trip was the second such visit from Iran since its US enemy overthrew Saddam Hussein in 2003 and oversaw the election of an Iraqi Shia Muslim leadership close to the Islamic Republic.