( Fars News Agency) Iran pledged at UN talks Saturday to help national reconciliation in Iraq but the assurance was immediately brushed aside by the Islamic republic's arch rival the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki joined other neighbors of Iraq in making the pledge at a high level meeting which agreed to support a bigger UN role in the war-ravaged country.
Mottaki also attacked continued US presence in Iraq, Iran's immediate neighbor, at the talks, co-chaired by UN chief Ban Ki -moon and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki , at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Briefing reporters after the talks, the US special advisor to Iraq, David Sutterfield , said Washington does not believe in Tehran's pledge to support reconciliation.
The meeting was also attended by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who sat opposite Mottaki . They did not make any direct contact.
Rice, without citing Iran or another US arch rival Syria, made clear in her remarks that "all of those neighbors of Iraq - all, without exception - should support security, stability and respect for Iraq's sovereignty."
Two months ago, the United States announced massive new multi-billion dollar military pacts for its allies in the Middle East, including Israel, in a bid to counter Iran and Syria.
They include a 20-billion dollar weapons package for Saudi Arabia, a 13-billion dollar package for Egypt, and reportedly arms deals worth at least 20-billion dollars for other Persian Gulf states.