Iran Focus
Rice told CNNs Late Edition on Sunday Washington was concerned about Iranian activities in Iraq, particularly in the south of the country, with militias. She also said that the U.S. had reasons for concerns over the presence of members of al-Qaeda in Iran.
She was adamant to reject the notion that U.S. and Iranian officials were holding talks. No, let’s not say officials. I want to be very clear. No, I want to be very clear. You’re using an s, a plural, she said.
On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Hamid-Reza Asefi spokesman responded by stating, Negotiations with America will take place to establish security in Iraq which due to the wrongdoing of American forces has resulted in serious damage to the innocent people of Iraq and it will also be about the departure of the occupation forces and a change of the wrong behaviour and attitude by the U.S. in Iraq. Asefis remarks were carried by the state-run news agency ISNA.
Even though we do not trust Americas intentions, the U.S.s wrongdoing in Iraq is one of the reasons we accepted the request by Iraqi officials to negotiate.
There have been reports that U.S. ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad was planning to meet Iranian representatives in Iraq within the coming week.
