US ambassador in Iraq says offer to talk to Iran tests Teheran's motives

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The US ambassador to Iraq says the Bush administration wants to test whether Iran really is interested in talking to the United States about a country of mutual interest, Iraq. Ambassador Ryan Crocker says even though Iran has backed out of recent appointments to meet with him to talk about Iraq, he is ready and waiting for the meeting. Crocker told reporters Friday that the Bush administration thinks it is worthwhile to make the offer and worthwhile to make the case to Iran that it should stay out of Iraq's internal affairs. Crocker says Iran continues to arm militias and insurgents inside Iraq. He blames Iran for supplying rockets that slammed into the protected Green Zone in Baghdad, where the US Embassy is.