thedrifter
12-09-06, 05:43 AM
Iran ready to help US withdrawal from Iraq
Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 9-Dec-2006 18:20 hrs
US Marines attach a howitzer to a helicopter for transportation to western Iraq in November 2006. Iran is ready under certain circumstances to help the United States withdraw its troops from neighbouring Iraq, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said.
Iran is ready under certain circumstances to help the United States withdraw its troops from neighbouring Iraq, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said.
"If the United States changes its attitude, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to help this administration" to withdraw its troops from Iraq, Mottaki said Saturday.
"The key to solve Iraq's problems is the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq."
Opening a dialogue with Iran and its regional ally Syria was one of the key recommendations of a bipartisan panel set up to review US policy in Iraq after three and a half years of escalating conflict.
The Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by former secretary of state James Baker, recommended Wednesday that Washington hold direct talks with Iran and Syria -- until now a diplomatic red line for an administration that has long branded the two states part of an "axis of evil."
"Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively," said the report by the 10-member panel of veteran Washington insiders.
President George W. Bush said Thursday that Iran and Syria must stop helping extremists and commit to help Iraq's fledgling government before any talks.
"If people come to the table to discuss Iraq, they need to come understanding their responsibilities to not fund terrorists, to help this young democracy survive, to help with the economics of the country," he said after talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"And if people are not committed, if Syria and Iran is not committed to that concept, then they shouldn't bother to show up," said Bush, who also ruled out direct talks with Iran unless it verifiably freezes sensitive nuclear work.
In a first reaction to the US policy review, Mottaki said in the Netherlands Wednesday that Washington needed no green light from Iran to withdraw its troops from Iraq.
"The decision to withdraw should not need any negotiation with Iran or other countries in the region," the Iranian minister said.
"We are in a position to help. I don't know how," he added. — AFP
Iran is ready under certain circumstances to help the United States withdraw its troops from neighbouring Iraq, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said.
"If the United States changes its attitude, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to help this administration" to withdraw its troops from Iraq, Mottaki said Saturday.
"The key to solve Iraq's problems is the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq."
Opening a dialogue with Iran and its regional ally Syria was one of the key recommendations of a bipartisan panel set up to review US policy in Iraq after three and a half years of escalating conflict.
The Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by former secretary of state James Baker, recommended Wednesday that Washington hold direct talks with Iran and Syria -- until now a diplomatic red line for an administration that has long branded the two states part of an "axis of evil."
"Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively," said the report by the 10-member panel of veteran Washington insiders.
President George W. Bush said Thursday that Iran and Syria must stop helping extremists and commit to help Iraq's fledgling government before any talks.
"If people come to the table to discuss Iraq, they need to come understanding their responsibilities to not fund terrorists, to help this young democracy survive, to help with the economics of the country," he said after talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"And if people are not committed, if Syria and Iran is not committed to that concept, then they shouldn't bother to show up," said Bush, who also ruled out direct talks with Iran unless it verifiably freezes sensitive nuclear work.
In a first reaction to the US policy review, Mottaki said in the Netherlands Wednesday that Washington needed no green light from Iran to withdraw its troops from Iraq.
"The decision to withdraw should not need any negotiation with Iran or other countries in the region," the Iranian minister said.
"We are in a position to help. I don't know how," he added. — AFP
Ellie
Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 9-Dec-2006 18:20 hrs
US Marines attach a howitzer to a helicopter for transportation to western Iraq in November 2006. Iran is ready under certain circumstances to help the United States withdraw its troops from neighbouring Iraq, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said.
Iran is ready under certain circumstances to help the United States withdraw its troops from neighbouring Iraq, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said.
"If the United States changes its attitude, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to help this administration" to withdraw its troops from Iraq, Mottaki said Saturday.
"The key to solve Iraq's problems is the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq."
Opening a dialogue with Iran and its regional ally Syria was one of the key recommendations of a bipartisan panel set up to review US policy in Iraq after three and a half years of escalating conflict.
The Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by former secretary of state James Baker, recommended Wednesday that Washington hold direct talks with Iran and Syria -- until now a diplomatic red line for an administration that has long branded the two states part of an "axis of evil."
"Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively," said the report by the 10-member panel of veteran Washington insiders.
President George W. Bush said Thursday that Iran and Syria must stop helping extremists and commit to help Iraq's fledgling government before any talks.
"If people come to the table to discuss Iraq, they need to come understanding their responsibilities to not fund terrorists, to help this young democracy survive, to help with the economics of the country," he said after talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"And if people are not committed, if Syria and Iran is not committed to that concept, then they shouldn't bother to show up," said Bush, who also ruled out direct talks with Iran unless it verifiably freezes sensitive nuclear work.
In a first reaction to the US policy review, Mottaki said in the Netherlands Wednesday that Washington needed no green light from Iran to withdraw its troops from Iraq.
"The decision to withdraw should not need any negotiation with Iran or other countries in the region," the Iranian minister said.
"We are in a position to help. I don't know how," he added. — AFP
Iran is ready under certain circumstances to help the United States withdraw its troops from neighbouring Iraq, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said.
"If the United States changes its attitude, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to help this administration" to withdraw its troops from Iraq, Mottaki said Saturday.
"The key to solve Iraq's problems is the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq."
Opening a dialogue with Iran and its regional ally Syria was one of the key recommendations of a bipartisan panel set up to review US policy in Iraq after three and a half years of escalating conflict.
The Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by former secretary of state James Baker, recommended Wednesday that Washington hold direct talks with Iran and Syria -- until now a diplomatic red line for an administration that has long branded the two states part of an "axis of evil."
"Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively," said the report by the 10-member panel of veteran Washington insiders.
President George W. Bush said Thursday that Iran and Syria must stop helping extremists and commit to help Iraq's fledgling government before any talks.
"If people come to the table to discuss Iraq, they need to come understanding their responsibilities to not fund terrorists, to help this young democracy survive, to help with the economics of the country," he said after talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"And if people are not committed, if Syria and Iran is not committed to that concept, then they shouldn't bother to show up," said Bush, who also ruled out direct talks with Iran unless it verifiably freezes sensitive nuclear work.
In a first reaction to the US policy review, Mottaki said in the Netherlands Wednesday that Washington needed no green light from Iran to withdraw its troops from Iraq.
"The decision to withdraw should not need any negotiation with Iran or other countries in the region," the Iranian minister said.
"We are in a position to help. I don't know how," he added. — AFP
Ellie