Official: Iran, U.S. to discuss Iraq security committee in Baghdad

~ The group will focus on "the composition and agenda of the security committee."

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran and the United States will meet in Baghdad on Monday to discuss ways to ease Iraq's security problems, Tehran's ambassador to Baghdad said.

The meeting -- to discuss a committee Iran and the United States agreed to set up last month to deal with security issues -- would be the third between the two countries in recent months over Iraq. The first round in May broke a 27-year diplomatic freeze following the 1979 Islamic Revolution and takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

"The two sides will exchange views on Monday concerning the details of a trilateral security committee," state-run television quoted Ambassador Hasan Kazemi Qomi as saying Saturday.

Qomi said Iraq would participate as well, and the group would focus on "the composition and agenda of the security committee."

'Expert'-level officials

He did not specify the officials who would attend the meeting, but indicated the discussions would be held at the "expert" level. The prior two rounds of talks included Qomi and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is expected to visit senior leaders in Iran on Wednesday.

The United States has accused Iran of fueling violence in Iraq and supporting militants there; Tehran has denied the allegations.