US certain to discuss Iraq situation with Iran: Rice

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Washington will talk with Iran about
U.S. accusations Tehran destabilizes Iraq, Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice said on Friday — the first confirmation the
United States will take its longtime foe up on an offer to
meet.

“Those meetings will take place at an appropriate time,”
Rice told reporters at a news conference.

Washington has charged Tehran with meddling in the
sectarian strife in Iraq, an accusation Iran denies.

In response to an overture by Washington last November,
Iran said last week it was open to talks on the issue with the
American ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad.

But until Rice’s comments, U.S. officials had refused to
say if the ambassador would hold the meeting. They also had
emphasized U.S. skepticism over the Iranian decision by
suggesting it was timed to distract from its nuclear programs
standoff with the West.

“I’m quite certain that at some point they will meet,” Rice
said of the planned talks.

While U.S. talks with Iran are unusual because the two
countries have no diplomatic ties, Rice noted Khalilzad — in
his former role as U.S. envoy to Afghanistan — had held
meetings with Iranian officials about that country.