Iran says "evil approach" by U.S. prevents talks

TEHRAN, May 1 (Reuters) Iran will not negotiate with the United States until it stops its ''evil approach'', the government's spokesman was quoted as saying today, two days before both countries were due to attend a meeting on Iraq.

US officials said this week Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was ready to talk with Iran on the sidelines of the May 3-4 international conference in Egypt but only if such contact was deemed useful.

''...Naturally, until the Americans stop their arrogant, one-sided and evil approach, we won't negotiate with them,'' Iranian government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham was quoted as saying by the student news agency ISNA.

REUTERS KD HS1828