Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, indicated yesterday that Tehran would take part in a Baghdad conference this month on Iraq's future, but the White House insisted that the meeting would not be an occasion for bilateral talks between the US and Iran.

Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has invited all Iraq's neighbours as well as Egypt, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. Iraqi television reported last night that the conference would take place on March 10.