Iran Sees Talks With US on Iraq Useless

Tehran, May 5, IRNA

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said on Monday that next round of talks with the United States on Iraq would not be effective when bloodshed is going on five years after occupation.

The US does not heed Iranian call to stop indiscriminate bombardment of residential areas in Sadr City and that the warring parties should sit at negotiating table and help Iraqi democratic government foster national reconciliation.

Iran has also advised the Iraqi government to go ahead with reconstruction program which will be helpful to create jobs for corps of unemployed youth.

"The focus of discussions with the US is Iraq's security and stability. We are witnessing indiscriminate bombardment of Iraqi residential areas by the US occupying forces," Hosseini told reporters at his weekly press conference.

"Given the current circumstances, holding the next round of talks (with US) would have no result and makes no sense." Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, and his US counterpart Ryan Crocker held three rounds of talks on Iraq on May 28, July 24 and August 6, 2007 in the presence of an Iraqi representative.

The fourth round of talks between the two sides was expected to be held on March 6, but it was cancelled in the last minute when the US side announced it was not well-prepared.

Iran gives preference to hold talks with the US on Iraq security, because of its interest in stability of the neighboring state.

The US occupying forces have in recent days carried out deadly rocket and air strikes against defenseless Iraqi people in Baghdad suburb, Sadr city.

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