U.S.-Iran Talks On Iraq To Await New Iraqi Government

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad (file photo) (AFP) April 9, 2006 -- The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said today that Washington will wait until Iraqis establish a new government before opening talks with Iran on the Iran's role in Iraq.

Khalilzad told Fox News television that the United States does not want to give the impression that it is meeting with Iran to decide about the formation of an Iraqi government.


In a separate interview with CNN, Khalilzad urged patience as Iraqi political groups continue to struggle to choose a government nearly four months after general elections.


(AFP)

Iraq And Iran

Iraq And Iran

Iranian Shi'a protesting the Golden Mosque Bombing in Iraq on February 24

WHAT IS GOING ON? On March 8, RFE/RL's Washington office hosted a roundtable discussion on relations between Iraq and Iran. Although most analysts agree that Iran has been actively involved in Iraq since the U.S.-led military operation to oust former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, they continue to debate the nature, extent, and intent of that involvement.
The RFE/RL briefing featured WAYNE WHITE, former deputy director of the U.S. State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research's Office of Analysis for the Near East and South Asia, and A. WILLIAM SAMII, RFE/RL's regional analyst for Iran and editor of the "RFE/RL Iran Report."


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Listen to the complete RFE/RL briefing (about 75 minutes):
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