Iran-US talks ‘victory for Iraqi diplomacy’

BAGHDAD – The meeting between US and Iranian envoys in Baghdad, the first such encounter in 27 years, was a victory for Iraq’s beleaguered government, Iraqi lawmakers said yesterday.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki sees both Iran and the United States as important partners in the struggle to restore peace in Iraq, and has been dismayed by the antagonism between the arch-enemies. Monday’s meeting at Maliki’s residence in Baghdad was the first face-to-face encounter at ambassadorial level between the foes since they broke off ties in 1980 and was welcomed by Iraqis close to the Shi’ite-led government.On the other side of Iraq’s bitter sectarian divide, however, Sunni leaders were deeply suspicious of any rapprochement, however limited, between the United States and Iran, which they accuse of arming their enemies.”The talks have two dimensions.The first is that it was a success for Iraqi diplomacy, that we could bring together two sides that have been at loggerheads for three decades,” said Hassan al-Sunaid, an MP from Maliki’s Dawa party.”The second dimension is that these talks were a big step toward opening the door between Iran and America on higher levels.It is the first time the two parties have discussed how they see each other in relation to Iraq.”The United States used the meeting to accuse Tehran of smuggling weapons to Iraqi extremist groups for attacks on US and Iraqi troops, while Iran’s envoy said Washington was not doing enough to support Maliki’s forces.Nevertheless, despite the gulf that clearly still divides the two powers on many issues, not just Iraq, both parties said the talks were ‘positive’ and Iran kept open the option of further meetings in the coming months.One controversial element of the talks was Iran’s offer to train and equip Iraq’s fledgling security forces, a task which Washington has taken on but which some in Baghdad feel could have been done quicker and better.Many in Iraq, however, say Iran already arms Iraqi factions where it sees a chance to undermine US efforts, and most leaders would oppose any further military involvement from across the two neighbours’ border.”At the moment, it would not be in the interest of the political situation in Iraq that Iraqi forces receive training in any neighbouring country,” said Sunaid, carefully spreading the blame among Sunni and Shiite states.”All these countries have interferred in Iraqi affairs, and therefore it would not be correct to send troops to get training there,” he explained.There is no unanimity on this issue even among the Shiite parties in Iraq’s ruling coalition.Hamid Rashid Muala al-Saadi, from the pro-Iranian Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), said he would welcome Tehran’s assistance.”We would welcome any kind of help like intelligence information, closing borders, training and buying weapons,” he said.Saadi, whose party was founded in Tehran as an opposition faction in exile but has recently tried to reinforce its patriotic Iraqi credentials, also welcomed the talks as “a diplomatic victory for Iraq”.Nampa-AFPMonday’s meeting at Maliki’s residence in Baghdad was the first face-to-face encounter at ambassadorial level between the foes since they broke off ties in 1980 and was welcomed by Iraqis close to the Shi’ite-led government.On the other side of Iraq’s bitter sectarian divide, however, Sunni leaders were deeply suspicious of any rapprochement, however limited, between the United States and Iran, which they accuse of arming their enemies.”The talks have two dimensions.The first is that it was a success for Iraqi diplomacy, that we could bring together two sides that have been at loggerheads for three decades,” said Hassan al-Sunaid, an MP from Maliki’s Dawa party.”The second dimension is that these talks were a big step toward opening the door between Iran and America on higher levels.It is the first time the two parties have discussed how they see each other in relation to Iraq.”The United States used the meeting to accuse Tehran of smuggling weapons to Iraqi extremist groups for attacks on US and Iraqi troops, while Iran’s envoy said Washington was not doing enough to support Maliki’s forces.Nevertheless, despite the gulf that clearly still divides the two powers on many issues, not just Iraq, both parties said the talks were ‘positive’ and Iran kept open the option of further meetings in the coming months.One controversial element of the talks was Iran’s offer to train and equip Iraq’s fledgling security forces, a task which Washington has taken on but which some in Baghdad feel could have been done quicker and better.Many in Iraq, however, say Iran already arms Iraqi factions where it sees a chance to undermine US efforts, and most leaders would oppose any further military involvement from across the two neighbours’ border.”At the moment, it would not be in the interest of the political situation in Iraq that Iraqi forces receive training in any neighbouring country,” said Sunaid, carefully spreading the blame among Sunni and Shiite states.”All these countries have interferred in Iraqi affairs, and therefore it would not be correct to send troops to get training there,” he explained.There is no unanimity on this issue even among the Shiite parties in Iraq’s ruling coalition.Hamid Rashid Muala al-Saadi, from the pro-Iranian Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), said he would welcome Tehran’s assistance.”We would welcome any kind of help like intelligence information, closing borders, training and buying weapons,” he said.Saadi, whose party was founded in Tehran as an opposition faction in exile but has recently tried to reinforce its patriotic Iraqi credentials, also welcomed the talks as “a diplomatic victory for Iraq”.Nampa-AFP