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Iran postpones Iraqi security talks with U.S.: Iraq
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iran has postponed a scheduled round of talks with the United States on Iraqi security in Baghdad, giving no reason for the delay, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Thursday.
Zebari told Reuters the talks were to have been held on Friday.
"Yesterday we were informed that the Iranians want to postpone this for some time, for some unknown reason," Zebari said. "This is the fourth time that we agreed on a date and they don't show up."
U.S. and Iranian officials met three times last year in Baghdad to discuss security in Iraq in talks arranged by the Iraqi government.
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The talks eased a diplomatic freeze between Iran and the United States that has lasted almost three decades, though the two countries are currently embroiled in a row over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was quoted on Wednesday by IRNA news agency as saying the next round of discussions would take place at an expert level.
He was referring to a security committee made up of officials from both sides.
Washington has accused Iran of supplying weapons and training for Shi'ite militias in Iraq, including sophisticated bombs and missiles used to kill U.S. troops. Tehran denies the accusations.
(Reporting by Dean Yates, writing by Michael Holden; editing by Elizabeth Piper)
