May 22, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 19,1424

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TEHRAN, May 21: Iran and the United States are holding back channel talks on Afghanistan, Iraq and the Al Qaeda terror network, a leading Iranian parliamentary official said on Wednesday.

Elaheh Koulaie, rapporteur for parliament’s National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, said Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi informed the panel on Tuesday of the agenda, the state news agency Irna reported.

Also up for discussion was the Iraq-based Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mujahedeen, she said, while also making the first official Iranian reference to talks with the US on Al Qaeda.

“The messages passed between the two parties were not only fruitful and positive, they also helped to overcome skepticism,” Ms Koulaie quoted Mr Kharazi as telling the committee.

A UN spokeswoman in Geneva said on May 13 that Iran and the United States, which cut diplomatic relations 23 years ago, were holding behind-the-scenes talks in the “Geneva Group”.

The forum was set up under the UN framework in 2000 to coordinate and discuss issues linked to the US-led war on Afghanistan. It also includes representatives from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Russia and Uzbekistan.

Successful US-Iranian discussions on Afghanistan were seen by some reformists in Iran as an opportunity to improve ties with the United States.

US officials have also confirmed that the two sides have held several meetings on the Iraq crisis and Afghanistan in Geneva, the most recent one reportedly in early May.

However, they have stressed that the issue of restoring diplomatic relations is not on the table.

“The question of bilateral relations has never been raised. As long as the conditions for re-establishing relations do not exist, Iran’s position will remain the same,” government spokesman Abdullah Ramezandadeh said on Tuesday.—AFP