Let's talk about Iraq by Jim Lobe

In a move that marks a major change in policy, Washington's influential ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, has disclosed that President George W Bush has authorized him to open direct talks with Iran about stabilizing Iraq.

The announcement came in an interview with Newsweek magazine. The two countries have not held direct talks since mid-May 2003, shortly after the US ouster of Saddam Hussein.