Middle East News

Iraqi Premier al-Maliki arrives in Tehran

Jun 7, 2008, 23:32 GMT

Tehran - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki arrived in Tehran, official news agency IRNA reported early Sunday. He is to meet later Sunday morning with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to discuss the latest developments in Iraq, including an agreement between Iraq and the United States to be finalized next month. Under the not yet concluded agreement, the US is seeking not only approval to maintain military bases in Iraq but also the right to conduct military operations from those bases against other countries without consultation with the Baghdad government. Iran has already protested the planned agreement, and Maliki is expected to reassure Tehran than Iran would not be harmed by the agreement. Maliki is expected to reiterate the Iraqi government's wish to resume Iran-US talks over Iraq's security, which both sides have halted. Tehran has indicated that there would be no further talks with the current US administration. There are hopes within the Iranian government that the possible presidency of presumptive centre-left Democratic nominee Barack Obama would change the status of Iran-US relations after almost three decades of political estrangement.

Middle East News

Iraqi Premier al-Maliki arrives in Tehran

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