Iranian Foreign Minister Vows To Retaliate If U.S. Attacks

Mottaki (left) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari in Baghdad today (epa) May 26, 2006 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki says his country will retaliate against any U.S. attack that might be launched in response to Tehran's nuclear program.

Mottaki made the remarks after talks in Baghdad today with Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Earlier today, Mottaki ruled out direct talks with U.S. officials for now about the situation in Iraq.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, has said in the past that he is ready to talk with the Iranians about Iraq.

Mottaki's visit to Iraq is the first by a top Iranian official since Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's election victory in June 2005. The United States has not had formal diplomatic relations with Iran since 1979.

(Reuters, AFP, AP)