Iraqi President Seeks Iran's Help

Jalal Talabani and Mahmud Ahmadinejad in Iran today

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Monday sought to enlist Iran's help in quelling the escalating violence that threatens to tear his country apart.

"The issue of establishing security in Iraq is the most important part of our talks. We are in dire need of Iran's help in establishing security and stability in Iraq," state-run television quoted Talabani as saying after he met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran.

The meeting between Talabani and Ahmadinejad, which was delayed for two days amid a security clampdown in Iraq, comes as Tehran is trying to assert its role as the top regional power broker to counter Washington's influence on Baghdad.

During their talks, Ahmadinejad pledged Tehran's support in helping to improve security in Iraq.

"Definitely, the Iranian government and nation will stand next to its brother Iraq and will do every help it can to strengthen security in Iraq," he was quoted as saying.

"We believe a stable, developed and powerful Iraq is in the interest of the Iraqi nation, Iran and the whole region," Ahmadinejad said, according to the television report.

Iran had been trying to organize a summit joining Ahmadinejad, Talabani and Syrian President Bashar Assad, but Damascus has not responded to Tehran's invitation. Talabani had planned to visit Iran on Saturday but had to postpone his trip until Baghdad's airport, which was closed after an especially deadly week, reopened Monday.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

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