AP: U.S. and Iran hold rare direct talks

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ_CONFERENCE

Mar 10, 2:11 PM EST

U.S. and Iran hold rare direct talks

By SCHEHEREZADE FARAMARZI
Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD (AP) -- U.S. and Iranian envoys exchanged direct talks Saturday on efforts to end Iraq's violence and bolster its government, opening limited but potentially significant contacts that could ease their nearly 28-year diplomatic freeze.

The discussions were confined to one session during a conference on Iraq stability, but they appeared to offer room for further interaction between the two nations - which find themselves increasingly drawn toward common issues in Iraq as the nation's most influential allies.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said he exchanged views with Iranian delegates "directly and in the presence of others" at the gathering led by Iraq's neighbors and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

He declined to give details of the contacts - calling them only "constructive and businesslike and problem-solving" - but noted that he raised U.S. assertions that Shiite militias receive weapons and assistance across the border from Iran.

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[applegrove]

1. Hopefully a sign that realists are in control of the WH. We can hope can't we?