Comment in the Iranian press on the talks with the US over Iraq reflects political allegiance, with reformist and conservative dailies seeing them as a positive development for Iran's regional standing.
One hard-line paper argues however that the negotiations should be stopped, while another says US "antagonism" towards Iran will never change.
Arabic papers are also wary and worry about increasing Iranian influence and what one calls "a clear American surrender".
IRAN'S REFORMIST E'TEMAD-E MELLI
Yesterday's talks prove that America has returned to a path where isolating Iran is not its main objective, and Iran's influence and role in the security of the region is recognised.
IRAN'S REFORMIST E'TEMAAD
Even if we believe that America is our enemy, we still can negotiate with each other over our common interests in the region. Because the two sides are interested in securing Iraq, these talks will be continued.
IRAN'S CONSERVATIVE TEHRAN-E-EMRUZ
Yesterday's talks prove that the Iranian side enjoyed the upper hand in the negotiations and took the initiative in presenting smart and creative proposals to bring about stable security in Iraq.
IRAN'S CONSERVATIVE HAMSHAHRI
Transparency in the diplomacy of Iran and America is a turning point in the foreign policy of the two countries... The continuation of these talks depends on immediate results because Iranians cannot trust any long-term promises from the West.
IRAN'S HARD-LINE JOMHURI-YE ESLAMI
Yesterday's Baghdad talks proved that negotiating with America, even over issues like Iraq, is not a calculated and precise act. So it is better that these talks be stopped at this point.
IRAN'S HARD-LINE IRAN
The Iranian delegation reminded the Americans that Iraq will be secure if America supports the elected government and beefs up the army against terrorist groups. The Americans were also told to leave Iraq as soon as possible.
IRAN'S AL-VEFAGH
What happened yesterday can be considered a breaking of the ice. But it does not constitute a fundamental development in relations between the two countries especially since the Americans seize every opportunity to display antagonism towards Iran.
FATIH ABD AL-SALAM IN IRAQ'S AL-ZAMAN
Today, the Iraqi scene is being influenced by everyone, except for Iraqi politicians... The coming days will be pregnant with even more trying events and the Iraqis' long ordeal will be pushed closer to its ultimate limits, particularly now that the US-Iranian meeting has taken place in Baghdad.
ABD-AL-RAHMAN AL-RASHID IN PAN-ARAB AL-SHARQ AL-AWSAT
The meeting is a clear American surrender... The Arabs will see this meeting as a negative development which will discredit Washington and shake their confidence in it.
PAN-ARAB AL-ARAB AL-ALAMIYAH
The most important message that the meeting sends is that the role of the Arabs in Iraq has come to an end and that they have no value in the eyes of the masters in Washington.
PAN-ARAB AL-QUDS AL-ARABI
The price Iran seeks for co-operating on Iraq is huge, because America cannot accept a partner in its domination of the Gulf region.
JALAL DUWAYDAR IN EGYPT'S AL-AKHBAR
It is beyond doubt that the Americans' willingness to co-operate with the Iranians is an implicit admission of Iranian interference through Iraqi agents working for them or through the presence of Iranian elements on Iraqi territory.
URAYB AL-RANTAWI IN JORDAN'S AL-DUSTUR
Iran is not a charity or an NGO that will offer its services for free. In return for every step Iran takes toward the US, the latter will have to take a similar step or an even larger one.
SAUDI AL-RIYAD
This meeting constitutes an implicit US admission of Iran's role... Iraq has become the centre of activity for the breakout of crises.
QATAR'S AL-WATAN
The US-Iranian talks show that when people resort to civilized and effective means, foremost of which is dialogue, there is always hope.
SAMI AL-ZUBAYDI IN JORDAN'S AL-RA'Y
The Baghdad conference resembles the Yalta conference as it is a conference of antagonists obliged by political realities to sit at the negotiation table with a view to sharing out influence... Arabs should adopt a clear strategy that sponsors any Iraqi faction that declares a clear stand against Iranian hegemony over Iraq.
BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©