Iran, Tehran, Feb. 11 / Trend , A.Namdari/
Reports that
France is mediating talks between Iran and the U.S. are false, Iranian
Parliamentary Security Commission members told Trend .
The Al-Hayat newspaper quoted a source close to Iraqi Prime Minister
Nouri al-Maliki on Feb. 11 as saying that French President Nicolas Sarkozy
discussed the Iranian-U.S. debate with Iraqi officials in Baghdad on Feb. 10.
After Sarkozy's visit to Iraq, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki
headed to Baghdad on Feb. 11.
"Reports that France is mediating talks between Iran and the U.S. are false.
Mottaki's visit to Iraq is not connected with Sarkozy's visit to the country,"
Iranian Parliamentary Foreign Policy and National Security Commission member
Mohammad Karim Abidi told Trend on Feb. 11.
Mottaki's visit to Iraq was related to contracts signed between Tehran and
Baghdad, he said.
During his visit to Tehran last week Iraqi Deputy National Security Minister
Muvaffag Al-Rabiyi said the Ashraf headquarters would soon be shut down in Iraq
and People's Mojahedin Organization members would be expelled from the country.
The Ashraf headquarters host 3,500 ethnic Iranian Mojahedins. The organization
opposes the Iranian government. People's Mojahedin Organization members fought
for Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. Tehran has demanded that Baghdad hand them
over to Iran on numerous occasions.
Another Iranian Parliamentary Foreign Policy and National Security Commission
member Mahmoud Ahmadi said Iraqi officials could make suggestions to Iran on
how to begin negotiations with the U.S.
"The officials' visit to Iraq aimed to discuss bilateral issues. However,
during the visit, Iraq may put forward some suggestions about U.S.-Iranian
discussions," Ahmadi told Trend on Feb. 11.
Ahmadi stressed that the visits of the French and Iranian officials are not
linked.
U.S. President Barack Obama said at a news conference on Feb. 9 that conditions
will be provided in coming months to start direct talks with Iran.
Iranian President Mahoud Ahmadinejad said on Feb. 10 that Barack Obama intends
to hold talks with Iran.
"The U.S. has to change its policies. Changes may be supported if they are of a strategic nature," Ahmadinejad said.
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