Iran has ordered its intelligence services to investigate allegations that secret talks have taken place between United States and Iranian officials, a government spokesman announced Wednesday.
"Last week, the government asked the intelligence ministry to identify the persons that allegedly held talks with the United States", Abdullah Ramazanzadeh told reporters.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently denied the existence of any secret discussions held between US and Iranian officials, alleged by the media to have taken place since November 2001 in either Cyprus or Turkey, AFP said.
Mohsen Mirdamadi, head of the parliament's foreign affairs committee, recently called on the government to disclose the details of the secret talks.
US and Iranian officials have participated in multilateral meetings concerning Afghanistan, such as the Bonn Conference in December 2000.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been since the 1979 Islamic revolution, and Iran's conservative leaders have rejected dialogue without concessions by Washington.
Both the reformist and conservative press have pointed the finger at suspects allegedly involved in the contacts. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
