Iran suspends talks with US on security in Iraq

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran said Monday it would not hold a new round of talks with the U.S. on security in Iraq until American forces end their current assault against Shiite militias.

U.S. and Iraqi forces have been battling supporters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and Iraq's government spokesman said Sunday that the crackdown would continue even if Iran pulled out of the talks.

"We believe the talks will not be held given the current situation (in Iraq)," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters during his weekly press briefing Monday.

Hosseini's announcement was the first official confirmation that Iran has decided to suspend talks with the Americans. Iran and the U.S. have held three rounds of ambassador-level talks on security in Iraq since last May.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080505/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_us_iraq

[SpikeTss]

1. US says talks with Iran 'meaningless' without change in behavior

Here's another perspective on this subject. It really doesn't sound good ...

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gdnm9QESN2OObJBXg6IAqX7WbaRg

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States said Monday it is still ready for talks with Iran on security in Iraq but said they are "meaningless" as long as Tehran continues its alleged support for Shiite militias there.

State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey was reacting to Iran's announcement it will not hold a fourth round of security talks with the United States as long as US forces continue attacking Shiite militias in Baghdad.

"It's meaningless to have talks on anything with Iran as long as they don't change their behavior," Casey told reporters.

...

In previous security talks, Casey said, the United States has raised "the unhelpful behavior" of Iran towards Iraq in which it allegedly funds, trains and offers material support to militias.

Iran, whose ties with Washington have been severed since 1980 and which wants US troops to leave Iraq, strongly denies the allegations.