BAGHDAD - American and Iranian envoys held cordial talks Monday, an Iraqi official said, as the two sides conducted their first round of public diplomacy in nearly three decades.

The official said the four-hour meeting between U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Iranian Ambassador Hassan Kazemi Qomi focused solely on Iraq.

"There are good intentions and understanding and commitment between the two countries," government spokesman Ali al-Dabagh told reporters.

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The talks started just before 10:30 A.M. at Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office in the Green Zone compound in Baghdad.

Maliki greeted the two ambassadors, who shook hands, and led them into a conference room, where they sat across the table from each other.

The prime minister then made a brief statement and left the room. Iraq was represented at the talks by National Security Adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie.

Maliki told both sides that Iraqis want a stable country free of foreign forces and regional interference.

"The country should not be turned into a base for terrorist groups," he said. He also said that the U.S.-led forces in Iraq were only there to help build up the army and police and the country would not be used as a launching ground for a U.S. attack on a neighbor, a clear reference to Iran.

"We are sure that securing progress in this meeting would, without doubt, enhance the bridges of trust between the two countries and create a positive atmosphere that would help them deal with other issues," he said.

Speaking in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Monday the talks could lead to future meetings, but only if Washington admits its Middle East policy has not been successful.

"We are hopeful that Washington's realistic approach to the current issues of Iraq by confessing its failed policy in Iraq and the region and by showing a determination to changing the policy guarantees success of the talks and
possible further talks," Mottaki said.

Monday's talks were to have a pinpoint focus: What Washington and Tehran - separately or together - could do to contain the sectarian conflagration in Iraq.

Washington wants Tehran to stop arming, financing and training militants, particularly Shiite militias that are fighting American and Iraqi troops. Tehran wants the U.S. to pull its troops out of Iraq.

Crocker was circumspect Saturday when asked about prospects for further meetings.

"It's going to start with one meeting and see how it goes," Crocker said. "We're coming prepared to talk about Iraq."

"The two sides can be hopeful about the outcome of the negotiations, if America develops a realistic view toward Monday's talks, admits its wrong policies in Iraq, decides to change them and accepts its responsibilities," Mottaki said in Tehran.

A political aide to al-Maliki said that Iraq hoped to play a mediator's role in easing tensions between the Americans and Iranians, which Iraqi officials have routinely said are being played out in Iraq.

The adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, said Iraq would remain neutral as regards its position in the disputes.

"But we want to try to close the gap, to be partners in the dialogue," the official said. "It is time to look forward, not backward."