US-Iran committee holds first meeting

Baghdad: A new sub-committee set up to find ways for the US and Iran to cooperate in ending Iraq's sectarian violence held their first meeting on Monday.

The talks were hosted by Iraqi officials in Baghdad and led by Marcie Ries, a senior diplomat at the US embassy, and Amir Abdollahian, the deputy head of Iran's mission.

The establishment of the security sub-committee has been the first direct contact between the United States and Iran since diplomatic ties were severed almost 30 years ago.