The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Tehran

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that U.S.-Iran talks have helped improve security in Iraq but he rejected claims that the Islamic republic is fueling violence there, the state news agency reported. "The outcome of (U.S.-Iran) talks have helped stabilize conditions in Iraq a great deal," IRNA quoted Ahmadinejad as telling Iraqi journalists in Tehran, a day ahead of his landmark visit to Iraq. Iran and the United States have held three rounds of talks about the security situation in Iraq, and in recent months U.S. officials have cited a dramatic drop in violence. Iraqi ambassador to Tehran, Abu Haidar al-Sheikh, called on Iran and the U.S. to upgrade the talks, which have been between ambassadors. "From Baghdad's point of view, the talks should be upgraded to the level of foreign ministers without conditions. The correct path is for Iran and U.S. to resolve their problems at the negotiating table," al-Sheikh was quoted by IRNA as saying Saturday. Al-Sheikh said a fourth round of talks has been delayed due to "technical" complexities but hoped that Ahmadinejad's visit to Iraq will help set a date for a new round of talks.