'Iran ready to consider talks with US over Iraq'

Iran is ready to consider high-level talks with the United States regarding security in Iraq, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported Wednesday. "The issue of negotiations between Iran and the US about Iraq at the level of deputy foreign ministers is reviewable," the agency quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as saying after a cabinet meeting in Teheran. Mottaki's statement came a day after the American and Iranian ambassadors to Iraq met in Baghdad and agreed to set up a security subcommittee to carry forward talks on restoring stability in the war-torn nation. Mottaki said that "Necessary studies will be undertaken" in case a "formal request" is made by the US for new, higher level talks on Iraq.