Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi stressed yesterday during his meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Naji Sabri, that the region cannot bear a third war within two decades and that Iraq's full cooperation with the UN inspectors refutes the American allegations and need to use force. Simultaneously, Tehran stated that "in the current crisis, its utmost concern is to preserve national interests," denying any dialogue with Washington about the conflict. Kharazi, also called for the need of solving all matters pending since the Iraqi-Iranian war, calling for closing the file of prisoners and the missing.

Sabri's visit to Teheran was unexpected and caused by Baghdad's desire to be briefed about Kharazi's recent talks connected with the Iraqi crisis. Sabri briefed his Iranian counterpart on the latest developments in the situation and Iraq's cooperation with the UN inspectors. His one-day visit to Iran followed Kharazi's brief talks last week with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair and with the Chairman of UN inspectors Hans Blix, as well as the visit to Tehran of the EU Commissioner for Foreign Political Affairs, Chris Patten.