Iran ready for talks with US on Iraq

TEHRAN (Iran)—Iran is ready to consider negotiating with the United States over regional issues including Iraq, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said Sunday. But Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Iran would not change its stance regarding relations with the U.S., indicating Iran would refuse to discuss its nuclear program.
“If there is any official request about regional issues, we are ready to review it,” said spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini. He said those issues included Iraq, but would not elaborate.
The United States said in May that it wanted to hold direct talks with Iran about Iraq — which would have been the most public exchange by the countries in years. Iran agreed to the idea, and U.S. and Iranian officials said at the time that the talks would focus on the situation in Iraq, not on broader subjects like Iran’s nuclear program.
But Iran then changed its mind, and Iran’s foreign minister rejected the talks saying the U.S. raised “other issues.”
U.S. officials have long accused Iran of interfering in Iraq since the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein. But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has also said that Iran has a role to play in stabilizing Iraq, whose government is Shiite, like Iran’s.
Some Western experts have said they believe Iran is genuinely worried about civil conflict in Iraq and its potential to spill over. Others say they believe hardliners in Iran may have an interest in causing turmoil in the country. Iran’s leaders are believed to have close links to some Iraqi leaders and clerics.
Sunday’s announcement came a day after thousands of Iranians celebrated the 27th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover by militant students in Tehran. The U.S. broke off relations with Iran after the takeover, when 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days.
Washington suspects Iran’s nuclear program is a front for developing weapons. Tehran says its program is for peaceful purposes and has refused U.N. Security Council demands that it suspend uranium enrichment. The process can produce fuel for nuclear power or material for an atomic warhead.
Iraq war protagonists the United States and Britain have led the applause after justice was meted out to Saddam Hussein, but other nations and groups were wary that he now faces the hangman’s noose.
The White House welcomed the guilty verdict as proof of the viability of Iraq’s fledgling government, while the US ambassador in Baghdad said the ruling marked an “important milestone” for the war-torn country.
“A former dictator feared by millions, who killed his own citizens without mercy or justice, who waged wars against neighboring countries, has been brought to trial in his own country — held accountable in a court of law with ordinary citizens bearing witness,” Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Sunday.
“Today is an important milestone for Iraq as the country takes another major step forward in the building of a free society based on the rule of law,” said a statement from Khalilzad.
“Although the Iraqis may face difficult days in the coming weeks, closing the book on Saddam and his regime is an opportunity to unite and build a better future.”
Britain said Saddam had been “held to account” for his crimes after he was sentenced to death by hanging for his role in ordering the deaths of 148 Shiite villagers in the village of Dujail, north of Baghdad.—Agencies