White House talks with Iran on Iraq ''in next few weeks''

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va, May 13 (Reuters) The White House today confirmed that US and Iranian officials would meet in the next few weeks in Baghdad about security in Iraq.

''You could expect a meeting in the next few weeks with Ambassador (Chester) Crocker and Iranians. The purpose is to try to make sure that the Iranians play a productive role in Iraq,'' Gordon Johndroe told reporters aboard Air Force One in route to Virginia.

Johndroe added, ''This is an ongoing process of trying to make sure that Iraq's neighbors, of which Iran is obviously a major one, play a constructive role.'' Crocker is the US ambassador to Iraq.

REUTERS DS PM2005