Iraq speaker arrives in Iran to discuss the US-Iraq security deal

Iran's state TV said Iraq's parliamentary speaker arrived in Iran on Tuesday to discuss the US-Iraq security deal after initially being turned away. The report quoted Mahmoud al-Mashhadani as saying he would discuss the "Washington-Baghdad security agreement" with Iran's leaders to sound out their views. Al-Mashhadani arrived at the Teheran airport using an Iranian plane. On Monday a plane carrying the Iraqi speaker was refused entry into Iran for unknown reasons. Iran opposes the US-Iraqi security talks, saying the presence of American forces in Iraq causes regional instability.