Iran: Quartet meeting proves US mideast initiative has failed

Tehran: Iran's foreign ministry says the Mideast Quartet meeting this weekend in Egypt proved the US initiative for peace in the region has failed.

After Sunday's gathering in Sharm Al Shaikh, both Israel and the Palestinians pledged to continue the peace process that US President George W. Bush launched last November in Annapolis although the year-end target set in Maryland for a deal likely won't be achieved.

Iranian ministry spokesman Hasan Qashqavi says the meeting spelled the "failure of Annapolis" and was just another in 19 Mideast trips by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Iran opposes the US-backed Israeli-Palestinian talks and supports the militant Palestinian Hamas rather than the moderate Fatah which is talking to Israel.