By IANS,
Tehran : Iran said Monday its next round of talks with the US on Iraq security would “make no sense” in the backdrop of intense US military offensive in the war-ravaged country, IRNA reported.
“The US does not heed Iranian calls to stop indiscriminate bombardment of residential areas in Sadr City. Therefore, the warring parties should sit at negotiating table and that would help the Iraqi government to iron out the differences over national reconciliation,” government spokesman Mohammed-Ali Hossiani said.
The Sadr City area of the Iraqi capital has witnessed intense violence after the Mahdi Army militia of radical Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr engaged the Iraqi army and the US troops triggering stepped up military offensive and air strike by the US forces.
“The focus of (our) discussions with the US is Iraq’s security and stability. We are witnessing indiscriminate bombardment of Iraqi residential areas by the US occupying forces,” Hossiani added.
Three rounds of talks between Iran and the US envoy in Baghdad, in the presence of an Iraqi representative, had been held in 2007.
The fourth round due to be held March 6 was cancelled in the last minute when the US side announced it was not prepared.