The United States has accepted a proposal put forward by the Iraqi government to hold new talks with Iran about the security situation in Iraq, the State Department said Tuesday.

 

"We have communicated to the Iranian government that we are agreeable to that," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, adding that the United States has not yet received a reply from the Iranian side.

 

"We are open to using this channel as a way of talking directly about important issues concerning security in Iraq. We don't yet have a date, and as soon as I am aware of a date, I'll try to convey that to you," McCormack said.

 

Two such rounds of talks have been held between the United States and Iran with little results achieved. The talks have nothing to do with Iran's nuclear issue, although the United States has accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons.

 

The United States has accused Iran of supplying weapons to the insurgents in Iraq. Iran has rejected the accusations.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2007)