U.S., Iranian officials might meet at Iraq conference: Rice

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday she would not rule out talks with Iranian officials at the international conference on Iraq scheduled for this week.

"I will not rule out that we may encounter one another," Rice told ABC news. However, she noted "This is not a meeting about the United States and Iran, this is a meeting about Iraq and about what Iraq's neighbors and interested parties can do to help stabilize the situation in Iraq."

In case there is an opportunity to speak with Iranian officials, Rice said her message would be: "Stop the flow of arms to foreign fighters. Stop the flow of foreign fighters across the borders. Stop using advanced IED (improvised explosive device) technology to kill American soldiers. Stop stirring up trouble among militias that then go and kill innocent Iraqis."

Last week, U.S. President George W. Bush said Rice might meet with the Iranian foreign minister when ministers from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Group of Eight and Iraq's neighbors meet at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on May 3 and 4.

Iran said on Sunday its Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will attend the international conference.

Source: Xinhua