WORLD CAPITALS, March 16, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Arch foes Washington and Tehran signaled on Thursday, March 16, a readiness to bilaterally discuss the situation in war-ravaged Iraq, as the Iraqi parliament convened for the first time.

US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad is "authorized to speak with Iranians about issues specifically related to Iraq," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the influential Shiite Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), has called for a dialogue between Tehran and Washington over the situation in Iraq.

"Remember we previously have had discussions with Iran about issues relating to Afghanistan, but this is a very narrow mandate dealing specifically with issues relating to Iraq," McClellan said.

He asserted, however, that any talks between the two sides on Iraq would not take up the Iranian nuclear crisis or other disputes.

Khalilzad said in a television interview on Friday, March 10, he was ready to hold talks with Iran on matters of mutual concern.

If US-Iranian negotiations were to occur, it would be their first direct talks since Washington broke ties with Tehran in April 1980 after the Islamic revolution that ousted the US-backed shah and the taking of US hostages.

The last time the sides sat at the same table was in 2001 in a room with seven other countries, including Russia, for discussions over Afghanistan.

"We agree to negotiate with the Americans," said Larijani. (Reuters)

Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the Islamic republic was ready for talks with the US on Iraq, reported Reuters.

"We agree to negotiate with the Americans," he told reporters after a closed-door speech to parliament, saying talks would focus on resolving ongoing problems in neighboring Iraq.

"We will accept the proposal to help resolve the problems in Iraq and establish an independent government there as it was made by Mr. al-Hakim, a top Islamic leader in Iraq."

Larijani, however, declined to comment on the time and level of talks.

Iranian officials had previously said Tehran was not interested in discussions on the developments in Iraq before US troops pulled out of the neighboring country.

Washington is leading diplomatic efforts to isolate Iran over its nuclear program.

In its National Security Strategy document, the White House named Tehran its number one security threat.

Pachachi told MPs security must be the priority if civil war was to be averted. (Reuters)

In another development, the Iraq parliament met for the first time Thursday since the December's election.

"We have to tell the world there will be no civil war among the Iraqi people. The risk is there," veteran politician and former foreign minister Adnan Pachachi told the opening session.

Pachachi, who presided over the session as the eldest member, said security must be the priority if civil war was to be averted.

The session was adjourned after nearly 20 minutes over differences on electing the new parliament speaker.

"It has been decided to leave the session open pending political agreement on the designation of a speaker and his two deputies," said Pachachi.

"It is difficult to chose a new speaker and his deputies until a deal is reached on the whole government package," outgoing parliament speaker Hajem al-Hassani said in a televised interview.

Once the speaker is chosen, the new constitution sets a 30-day timetable for forming a government.

Iraqi parties have been deadlocked over forming a national unity government since the December election to choose the first full-term parliament.

Outgoing Premier Ibrahim al-Jaafari said that the new government could be formed within a month "if politicians work seriously."

"I think a month is enough to form a government, if we keep to the constitution," he said.

Jaafari's candidacy for a second term is at the center of the political logjam that delayed parliament's first session for over a month.

"If my people ask me to step aside I will do this," Jaafari said, shortly after attending the much-delayed inaugural session.