White House says United States ambassador can talk to Iran on Iraq issues

The White House said Thursday that the United States could talk with Iran about issues related to Iraq , but not about Iran 's nuclear program.

Photo: White House says United States ambassador can talk to Iran on Iraq issues

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said that Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, is authorized to talk with Iran about Iraq, much as the United States has talked with Iran about issues relating to Afghanistan.

"But this is a very narrow mandate dealing specifically with issues relating to Iraq," presidential press secretary Scott McClellan said. U.S. concerns about Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program are being dealt with at the United Nations. "That's a separate issue from this," McClellan said.

McClellan's comments came after a top Iranian official, Ali Larijani, told reporters Thursday that Iran was ready to open direct talks with the United States over Iraqi issues.

Top U.S. officials have stepped up criticism in recent weeks that Iran was meddling in Iraqi affairs and sending weapons and personnel to help insurgents in Iraq , reports the AP.

D.M.