US tells of 'heated exchange' in rare Iran talks
The Iranians did at one point say that it was not at all their policy or intention to 'defeat' the US in Iraq
(Whew! What a relief that is!)
**
Jul 24 02:47 PM US/Eastern
US charges that Iran was fueling sectarian strife in Iraq and terrorism in the Middle East led to tense and heated debate in rare talks Tuesday between the two arch enemies, US officials said.
"There were several heated exchanges in the course of the day," US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, who led the US side to the talks in Baghdad, told Washington-based reporters by telephone.
Tehran's envoy Hassan Kazemi Qomi headed the Iranian delegation in the talks that was also attended by a delegation of Iraqi officials led by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
Crocker said arguments erupted when he accused Iran of providing direct support to extremist militias -- both training and actual weapons -- and that Washington had "the proof."
Qomi "took exception to that," Crocker said, adding that a "brief summary" of the evidence was provided by the United States at the talks.
"I said we are not here to prove something in a court of law. We are here to let them know we know what they are doing and it needs to stop," he said.
Tensions also spiked when the Iranians sought to "broaden the discussion," which was to be confined to Iraq.
US charges that Iran was fueling sectarian strife in Iraq and terrorism in the Middle East led to tense and heated debate in rare talks Tuesday between the two arch enemies, US officials said.
"There were several heated exchanges in the course of the day," US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, who led the US side to the talks in Baghdad, told Washington-based reporters by telephone.
Tehran's envoy Hassan Kazemi Qomi headed the Iranian delegation in the talks that was also attended by a delegation of Iraqi officials led by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
Crocker said arguments erupted when he accused Iran of providing direct support to extremist militias -- both training and actual weapons -- and that Washington had "the proof."
Qomi "took exception to that," Crocker said, adding that a "brief summary" of the evidence was provided by the United States at the talks.
"I said we are not here to prove something in a court of law. We are here to let them know we know what they are doing and it needs to stop," he said.
Tensions also spiked when the Iranians sought to "broaden the discussion," which was to be confined to Iraq.
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posted by jillosophy at 7/24/2007 07:08:00 PM
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