Rooyesh

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is not ruling out direct talks with Iranian officials at a conference this week on Iraq, though Tehran’s nuclear program probably would not come up. At the regional meeting beginning Thursday in Egypt, Iraq is seeking support for its neighbors for helping in reining in sectarian violence. Iran’s foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, is expected to lead his country’s delegation. Iran agreed Sunday that it would attend the conference.

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