Iran Backs Out of Peace Talks

By Pamela Mortimer

Iranian officials announced Monday they will not participate in a new round of peace talks with the United States and Iraq until American troops end current attacks against Shiite militias.

Iraqi and U.S. troops have been involved in an ongoing battle with supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr, a radical Shiite cleric. On Sunday, Iraqi officials stated the attacks would continue even if Iran decided to pull out of the peace talks.

"We believe the talks will not be held given the current situation (in Iraq)," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters at a press conference.

Sunday’s statement from Hosseini was the first official announcement Iran on the decision to suspend peace talks with the U.S and Iraqi government officials. To date, Iran and the U.S. have participated in three sessions of "ambassador level talks" regarding security issues in Iraq.

"What we are witnessing is open and extensive bombing of the Iraqi nation, while the main goal of talks with the American side would have been security and peace in Iraq," Hosseini said. "It is a matter of doubt that the U.S. is pursuing a solution for the crisis, which was caused by them."

Iran has been repeatedly accused by the U.S. of supporting the presence of Shiite militias in Iraq, including giving financial support to the group. Iran, a predominantly Shiite country like the neighboring Iraq, has continued to blame the United States for ongoing violence in the war-torn country.

Last week, a team of five Iraqis was sent to Tehran in an attempt to prevent the Iranian government’s continued support to the militia.

Regarding the peace talks, Hosseini said, "Tehran has always said that it supports the Iraqi government and legal action against illegal armed groups who commit crimes there."

Hosseini did not make specific comparisons between this action and the current attacks against the Shiite militias in Iraq.

In a rebuttal that took place on Sunday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that there is no "conclusive" evidence that Iran has been supplying weapons to the Shiite militias.

Despite Iran’s postponement of the peace talks, Al-Dabbagh stated that Iraq does not want to create conflict with Iran and will not be pushed to adopt "an aggressive attitude" toward the country.