Iraq is pressing the United States and Iran to hold a second round of talks in Baghdad to follow up a landmark meeting in May, but no date has been set, Iraq's foreign minister said on Sunday. Hoshiyar Zebari also said the US embassy in Baghdad had agreed to give Iran consular access to five Iranians who were detained by American forces in northern Iraq in January.
The US military says the five are linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and backing militants in Iraq. Iran insists they are diplomats, wants them freed and has requested access.
US Ambassador Ryan Crocker and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi-Qomi met in Baghdad on May 28 to discuss security in Iraq in what was the most high-profile meeting of the two arch enemies in almost three decades. Both envoys described the talks as positive. Iraq has invited both sides to meet again but neither have publicly said they would accept.
"We felt that there is a common interest in pursuing these talks, in having a second meeting, but no date has been agreed yet. We are working on that. There would be a second round, I hope so," Zebari told Reuters in an interview.
Washington accuses Iran of fomenting violence in Iraq, while Tehran blames the US-led invasion in 2003 for sparking bloodshed that threatens to tear the country apart.
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