BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iran has postponed a scheduled round of talks with the United States on Iraqi security in Baghdad, giving no reason for the delay, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Thursday.
Zebari told Reuters the talks were to have been held onFriday.
"Yesterday we were informed that the Iranians want topostpone this for some time, for some unknown reason," Zebarisaid. "This is the fourth time that we agreed on a date andthey don't show up."
U.S. and Iranian officials met three times last year inBaghdad to discuss security in Iraq in talks arranged by theIraqi government.
The talks eased a diplomatic freeze between Iran and theUnited States that has lasted almost three decades, though thetwo countries are currently embroiled in a row over Tehran'snuclear ambitions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was quoted onWednesday by IRNA news agency as saying the next round ofdiscussions would take place at an expert level.
He was referring to a security committee made up ofofficials from both sides.
Washington has accused Iran of supplying weapons andtraining for Shi'ite militias in Iraq, including sophisticatedbombs and missiles used to kill U.S. troops. Tehran denies theaccusations.
(Reporting by Dean Yates, writing by Michael Holden;editing by Elizabeth Piper)
