Despite ramping up its verbal attacks on Iran and Syria, the U.S. will participate in a conference in Iraq next month that will include the two regional powers. A State Department spokesman said he would not “exclude any particular interaction” with the diplomatic foes.


US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: “We hope that all governments seize this opportunity to improve their relations with Iraq and to work for peace and stability in the region.”

Asked about face-to-face meetings with other delegates, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack would not “exclude any particular interaction”.

“I’m sure that there are going to be different kinds of discussions, meaning different groupings,” he said.

The five permanent UN Security Council members and the Arab League are to be invited to the meeting.

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