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Iranian President Promises to Help Iraq ‘in All Fields’

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani began a visit to Iran Monday evening, in an attempt to mobilize the latter in its war against terror. During his meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad, Talabani said his country was "in dire need of Iran’s help in establishing security and stability," the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported.
 
The United States has accused Iran of hindering the efforts to stabilize Iraq. Nevertheless, Ahmadi Nejad promised Talabani that his nation and government would "stand beside their brother, Iraq, and would extend any help… to strengthen security in Iraq.”
 
Talabani is scheduled to meet Iranian high-ranking officials, including Spiritual Leader Ayatollah ‘Ali Khamanai.
 
"The issue of establishing security in Iraq is the most important part of our talks," Talabani told reporters on Monday night.
 
The Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by former U.S. secretary of state James Baker, has recommended the U.S. administration go ahead with an aggressive regional diplomatic initiative to include direct talks with Iran and Syria. U.S. President George W. Bush told reporters in Estonia today (Tuesday) that the U.S. would not negotiate with Iran as long as it did not verifiably suspend its enrichment programs.