TEHRAN, April 6: Talks between Iran and the United States on the situation in Iraq will probably take place in Baghdad next week, the state news agency IRNA quoted an unnamed official as saying on Thursday.

“The negotiations are likely to start next week in Baghdad,” the source at Tehran’s embassy in Baghdad said, denying Iranian press reports that the talks were due to start in two days’ time.

“The negotiations must be open and transparent with the Iraqi government representative’s participation,” he added.

Press reports said the Iranian delegation is likely to be headed by top Supreme National Security Council official Ali Hosseini-Tash, who was appointed to nuclear talks with Moscow in February.—AFP