Iraqi president urges speedy Iran-US talks on Iraq

Baghdad, March 30, IRNA-Iraq's president Jalal Talabani here on Thursday called for speedy talks and dialogue between Iran and the US on Iraq.

"Speedy talks between the two countries will play a significant role in expediting Iraq's political process and removal of problems," said Talabani in a meeting with Iran's charge d'affaires to Baghdad Hassan Kazemi Qomi.

"Iran and the US are both friends of new Iraqi sovereignty, and dialogue and understanding between them will have a suitable impact on improvement of conditions in Iraq, guaranteeing the country's interests," he added.

The Iraqi president said that the Tehran-Washington talks on Iraq issues are effective in easing challenges facing their relations and in removing other problems of the two countries.

Senior Iranian officials have welcomed talks with the US on Iraq on a call by the head of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Abdelaziz Hakim.

Qomi also briefed Talabani on outlines of Iran's policy on talks with the US in connection with Iraq.

He voiced Iran's all-out readiness for contribution to Iraq's reconstruction process and its overall development.

He said Iran respects elections in Iraq and the votes of the Iraqi nation, hoping that outcome of the polling will help repel the ongoing crisis and bring about tranquility for Iraqis and their wise leaders.

He called on the Iraqi president to secure release of the Iranian prisoners in Iraq.

The Iranian diplomat said there are about 250 Iranian nationals, mostly pilgrims to the Iraqi holy sites, that have been detained and imprisoned on charges of illegal entry to Iraqi soil.