US and Iran in Iraq conference talks

US and Iranian envoys exchanged direct talks today at a conference on Iraq stability efforts, opening possibly groundbreaking steps that could ease their nearly 28-year diplomatic freeze.

The US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmy Khalilzad, said he exchanged views with Iranian delegation “directly and in the presence of others” at the one-day meeting of Iraq’s neighbours and others including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.