Iran Offers U.S. Help Exiting Iraq

Why, if we only had more dialogue, they'd be nice to us. Such a kind gesture, how can anyone refuse?

Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian deputy foreign minister who attended last week’s conference on Iraq’s future at Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, has offered Tehran’s co-operation to the US in developing an “exit strategy” from Iraq.

Mr Araghchi on Tuesday said America and Iran had the “same interests” in a stable Iraq and that direct talks leading to a “face-saving withdrawal” were possible with Washington’s goodwill.

I can see Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi rushing to take up his offer.

“Their invasion was a disaster – let there not be a disastrous withdrawal,” he said in an interview. “Yes, immediate withdrawal could lead to chaos, civil war. No one is asking for immediate withdrawal of foreign forces. But there should be a plan.”

Mr Araghchi, a career diplomat seen as a potential interlocutor with Washington, insisted the US presence was part of Iraq’s problem.

Sure, keep tralking trash. That'll work.

He said Iran also believed the US and Britain had links to militants responsible for killing officials and civilians in Iran’s south-east province of Sistan-Baluchestan and in Khuzestan in the south-west.

But no pressure would lead Iran to give up its nuclear programme, for which it was prepared to “pay the price”, Mr Araghchi said.

“There are two options – confrontation and co-operation. If they [the west] prefer confrontation, then let’s go together . . . .

Stay tuned.

All you really need to know about their help.