Iran says it's ready for talks with US over Iraq

[Judi Lynn]

Iran says it's ready for talks with US over Iraq
16/03/2006 - 11:09:21

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator today said Tehran was ready to open talks with the United States over Iraq, marking a major Iranian foreign policy shift.

This is the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that Iran is officially calling for dialogue with the United States, which it has repeatedly condemned as “the Great Satan”.

“To resolve Iraqi issues and help establishment of an independent and free government in Iraq, we agree to (talks with the United States),” Ali Larijani told a closed meeting of the parliament today.

It was not immediately clear what Larijani was talking about. But the United States has repeatedly accused Iran of meddling in Iraq’s affairs, and even sending weapons and fighters to help the insurgency.
(snip/…)

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/03/16/story249578.html

[ECH1969]

1. This isn't because Iran is growing to like us more

Khalilzad out negotated them on a couple core issues regarding Iraq's future last week and they are unhappy about it.

[Teaser]

2. Iran Successfully pressures Kurds to accept Jaafari?

Here's an interesting story, posted by Juan Cole to his blog:

As a new round of talks began between the political factions in Iraq, Iran started to pressurize the Kurdish leadership to support the re-election of Al-Ja'fari.

The Iranian Ambassador Kazimi Qumi held closed door sessions with Barzani and Talabani in the recent few weeks. He asked them to re-elect Al-Ja'fari for the post of prime minister.

A well informed source told Hawlati: "Iran dedicated all its resources (for re-election of Al-Ja'fari), and so they have been able to cool off Talabani and Barzani." (Passage omitted) "The effect of Iran's pressure was apparent, as all participants were calm regarding Al-Ja'fari's re-election" in yesterday's meeting at the home of the United Iraqi Alliance leader Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim.

In the context of forcing Kurds to change their stance on the re-election of Al-Ja'fari, many Kurds living in Baghdad received threats from Shiite militias. The threats said: "If the Kurdish leadership insists on their stance, you must leave your homes." Moreover, Hawlati phoned many Kurdish families in Baghdad and they all confirmed these reports. They said: "A number of black dressed young armed men threatened to evict them if the Kurdish leadership insists on going up against Al-Ja'fari's re-election."
(Description of Source: Al-Sulaymaniyah Hawlati in Sorani Kurdish -- weekly independent newspaper) '

http://www.juancole.com/2006/03/shiite-pilgrims-us-troops-killed.html

[ECH1969]

4. Black dressed young men are Sadrists

[Teaser]

5. no doubt

Sadr is playing every goddamn side of the fence he can find.

[bemildred]

3. Iran is pleased with the present situation and wants to prevent

its deterioration to the point where the US would be forced to leave. Besides, this is great propaganda.

"To resolve Iraqi issues and help establishment of an independent and free government in Iraq, we agree to (talks with the United States)”

:rofl::rofl:

[cal04]

6. Possible Iran-US talks reveal Iraq Shi'ite rivalry

The prospect of Iranian-U.S. talks on Iraq, which look more likely after statements in Washington and Tehran on Thursday, partly reflects intense struggles within Iraq's dominant Shi'ite Alliance, Iraqi political sources say.

Deadlock on forming the national unity government that U.S. officials say can avert civil war is not only the result of Sunni and Kurdish opposition to Shi'ite Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, but also of Shi'ite factional rivalry for the post.

A call on Wednesday from Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the biggest party in the Alliance, SCIRI, for Iran to take part in negotiations is part of a SCIRI strategy to overturn the bloc's nomination of Jaafari to a second term, the sources said.

Hakim's broader goal may be to re-establish his authority in the bloc in the face of challenges from other leaders.
Dawa party leader Jaafari has Iranian backing for the job, and this has cost him Washington's support, sources familiar with the internal workings of the Alliance said. "Washington knows Iran favors Jaafari and as a result it has said a big 'No' to him," said one senior Iraqi politician.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-03-17T000504Z_01_N16339705_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAN-USA-IRAQ.xml