TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said Sunday that Tehran has agreed to a formal request from America to talk about security in Iraq during meetings in Baghdad, the country’s official news agency reported.

The report said Iran had received the request through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which often acts as an intermediary for America in the country.

There was no immediate comment or confirmation of the request from Washington.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari had said last week that he expected such Iranian-American talks to happen in Baghdad soon.

During a meeting on Iraq’s future in Baghdad two months ago, mid-level American and Iranian officials did meet briefly and discuss Iran. Mid-level officials also met briefly at last weekend’s Iraq summit at an Egyptian resort.

“Iran has agreed to this (negotiation) after consultation with Iraqi officials, in order to lessen the pain of the Iraqi people, support the Iraqi government and establish security and peace in Iraq,” the agency quoted Mohammad Ali Hosseini, spokesman of Iran’s foreign ministry, as saying.

The report said the negotiations will be held in Baghdad.

“Time and level of negotiation team will be decided by the end of the week,” Hosseini was quoted as saying.