U.S., Iran to have security talks in Baghdad

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United States is due to have new security talks with Iran next week in Baghdad, Iraq, the Associated Press quoted U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker as reporting on Friday.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Crocker said that Iran continues to play a negative role in training and supplying insurgents with Iranian-produced weapons and explosives.

But the U.S. envoy noted that he remains open to renewing a three-way security dialogue with Iranian and Iraqi officials.

The new tripartite meeting could happen in "the next week or so," Crocker said. "The Iranians may be ready to come back to the table and if they are, we'll be there."

The United States, which has no diplomatic relations with Iran since 1980, has offered to hold wide-ranging talks with Iran if Tehran first ceases its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities, which can produce material for nuclear weapons.

For now, the Bush administration has limited its official high-level dealings with Iran to discussions about Iraq, primarily in Baghdad.