Iran says it has abandoned the idea of high- level talks with the US over Iraq. Tehran’s decision came after Washington played down the prospect of further negotiations. A State Department spokesman said the prospect was unlikely, despite an agreement at a meeting in Baghdad on Tuesday to form a joint panel to improve security in Iraq. That meeting between respective foreign diplomats was the highest profile face-to-face dialogue between Iran and the US since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Iran hopes that by talking to the US it could help restore stability to Iraq. US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has offered to sit down for talks if Iran abandons its nuclear programme -something Tehran has refused to do.

Copyright © 2012 euronews