Iran Supreme Leader sanctions talks with US on Iraq

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei on Tuesday sanctioned talks with the United States on
Iraq, saying Iranian officials would tell the U.S. to leave the
country.

“If Iranian officials can express Iran’s opinion about Iraq
to Americans and make them understand Iran’s views, talks on
this issue are not problematic,” Khamenei, who has the final
say in all state matters, said in the northeastern city of
Mashhad.

“But if (talks) mean opening up an arena for deceitful
Americans to continue their bullying attitude, talks with
America on Iraq are banned,” he said in a televised speech.

U.S. President George W. Bush said on Tuesday Washington
would make clear in the talks, expected this week, that it
would not accept attempts to spread sectarian violence in Iraq.

Tehran denies U.S. charges it is helping inflame sectarian
violence in Iraq and that some components of improvised
explosive devices, or IEDs, used by insurgents in Iraq have
been traced to Iran.

“Our clear opinion on Iraq is that the American government
should leave Iraq and stop provoking ethnic tensions and
creating insecurity so that (Iraq) has peace and security,”
Khamenei said.

Iraqi political sources said they expected the U.S.
Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, to meet with Iran’s
representatives this week.

Bush has said he views Iran as a threat, and the United
States is leading diplomatic efforts to isolate its longtime
foe over Tehran’s nuclear program.

But the United States has said it is open to talks with
Iran on what it sees as Tehran’s meddling in Iraq, while the
nuclear issue should be left for international negotiations.