Iran's Senior Advisor to the Supreme National Security Council has said Tehran is unsure of Washington's real intention behind discussing the Iraq crisis.

Ali Aqa-Mohammadi added "In the first round of talks we were seeking to learn whether US move could be seen as a goodwill gesture or whether it was continuation of its animosity towards the Islamic Republic, Mehr news agency reported.

To follow up their landmark meeting on May 28, the US requested for an official second round of talks over the issue of security in Iraq on Wednesday.

In order to overcome the deteriorating condition, experts say Washington needs Iran's help to get itself out of the quagmire it has created by invading the country.

The top Iranian official added that the second round of negotiations "will clarify whether the US is genuinely trying to resolve the situation in war-torn Iraq or whethet it is only a strategic move to distance itself from the mounting pressure from its senate."

US president George W. Bush has come under heavy pressure recently from both Democrats and Republicans for his inability to get US out of the disastrous Iraqi situation.

Aqa-Mohammadi also said "We should remind Americans that in addition to common borders between Iran and Iraq, the two have considerable religious commonalities and Washington should not try to break their amicable ties."

The senior policymaker, who is also a member of the State Expediency Council, added that we should make Americans understand that their unwarranted interference in Iraq's domestic affairs and arming certain groups is contributing to the increasing terrorist activities in the war-ravaged country.

Iraqi heavyweights have recently accused the US of cooperating with 'gangs of killers' in Anbar and Diyala provinces, near Baghdad. These senior Iraqi officials have also criticized Washington's support for the terrorist group Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO).


DT/GMA/RA