Iranian envoy gives nod to possible meet with Rice

STOCKHOLM, May 7 (Reuters) Top officials from Iran and the United States, including Condoleezza Rice, could meet about Iraq, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said today.

Mottaki and Rice informally crossed paths at a meeting on Iraq at the weekend in Egypt, though they had no formal talks.

He said this could be possible in the future.

''If the situation moves continuously positively there is a possibility for the future meeting of the relevant people on the issue of Iraq,'' he told a news conference after meeting his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt.

He was echoing his remarks aired on Al Arabiya television yesterday in which he said a meeting on Iraq could be possible providing the talks would be adequately prepared beforehand.

Talks between Rice and Mottaki would be one of the highest-level meetings between the two countries since Washington broke diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 when Iranian students held 52 US citizens hostage.

Mottaki said he and Rice had only had a chat at the gathering in the Egyptian resort city Sharm el-Sheikh, though he noted lower level officials had met and exchanged views.

He said all countries in the region and the international community should come together to help develop a stable Iraq and free the country from foreign forces. US officials have accused Tehran of stoking violence there, a charge Iran denies.

Rice also said in Sharm el-Sheikh that if she had had the chance she would also have met with Mottaki.

Reuters JK SBA VP0305