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An Iranian delegation arrived in Baghdad on March 5 for the fourth round of talks with U.S. officials on Iraq, Reuters reported, citing Iranian news agency ISNA. ISNA reported that the head of the Iranian delegation, Reza Amir-Moghaddam, said the talks will be held March 6, while Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh maintained that thus far no date has been set. ISNA added that the talks would be expert-level discussions, but al-Dabbagh said he expected them to take place at both the ambassadorial and security committee levels. Meanwhile, official Iranian news agency IRNA is reporting that the fourth round is being held at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The fact that an Iranian delegation has arrived in Iraq means a meeting will take place even if the date is not yet set. The variance in Iraq and Iran’s statements about the level of talks is a result of Baghdad’s interest in seeing substantial progress made in this round. Tehran more likely views the meeting as a placeholder event.
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