WASHINGTON, July 23 (UPI) – Discussions in Baghdad between the United States and Iran will not herald a broadening of relations between the two countries, a White House official said.
"The conversations are restricted to security matters within Iraq proper," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. "This is the channel that has been opened up. This is not a way of broadening diplomatic contacts between the nations."
The meeting Tuesday in the Iraqi capital will be at the ambassadorial level and will be the first between the two governments since last May, when representatives met under the sponsorship of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Those talks, as do the new ones, were focused on helping bring security stability to Iraq.
Iran wields influence to varying degrees with Iraqi Shiite groups. And the United States has accused it of providing weaponry to some insurgents.
"Let’s put it this way: This is an opportune time, at the invitation of the Iraqi government, to revisit commitments Iran has made, saying that it believes in trying to stabilize Iraq," Snow said. "We have seen signs we think need addressing.
"You have seen (Iranian) Quds (military) forces support within Iraq. You have seen the importation of EEPs (special roadside bomb charges). You have seen weaponry making its way into Iraq.
"So the purpose of these talks is to sit down and express concerns, and to see if there is some way to work toward providing real security for the Iraqis," Snow said.
