Iran backs sovereignty in U.S.-Iraqi pact

TEHRAN, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry Monday called for the preservation of Iraqi sovereignty as negotiations on the long-term security deal with Washington wind down.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said preserving full sovereignty was one of the final points yet to be settled by the negotiating team for the security deal set to replace the expiring U.N. mandate for Iraq, the Islamic Republic News Agency said.

"There are many significant points in the joint U.S.-Iraqi security agreement, which have not been fully settled. Iran stresses the importance of preserving Iraq's full national sovereignty," Qashqavi said.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said during the weekend a deal was in the "final draft" stage for a U.S. troop withdrawal, adding negotiations on a final agreement with the United States were "up to the political leadership" to decide.

Meanwhile, Qashqavi sidestepped questions concerning a possible fourth round of talks with U.S. officials over the situation in Iraq, saying the decision was up to Baghdad.

U.S. and Iranian officials had scheduled talks in early 2008, but U.S. officials decided to pull their delegation from the meeting.