TEHRAN, Nov 16: Iran's top national security official on Thursday urged the United States to give a clear indication as to whether it wanted to ask the Islamic republic for talks over stabilising Iraq.

“We are hearing different voices from the United States,” Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani told reporters after talks with Palestinian foreign minister Mahmud Zahar.

“The statements from their side are not very clear, and what is important is that they say clearly what it is they want,” he added.

There has been speculation that the final report of a Congressionally mandated panel charged with coming up with a new approach to Iraq would endorse contacts with Iran and Syria on ending Iraq violence.

US President George W. Bush said earlier this week that the only way for the United States to have dialogue with Iran would be for Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment, something it has so far refused to do.

But a senior State Department official who oversees Iraq policy said Wednesday the US was ready “in principle” for direct talks with Iran on Tehran's role in the country.

“We are prepared, in principle, for a direct dialogue with Iran. The timing of that dialogue is one that we are considering,” David Satterfield told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Moves by the United States to open up talks with Iran in Baghdad to promote peace in Iraq earlier this year came to nothing amid mutual recriminations, despite initial cautious expressions of acceptance.

The US broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 after Islamic radicals seized the US embassy in Tehran, and ties have remained ruptured ever since.

Washington has accused Tehran of meddling in Shia-majority Iraq, charges that Tehran vehemently denies.—AFP