The United States rejected on Wednesday Iran's proposal to have higher-level talks between the two countries over Iraq's security situation.

"I don't see that happening at this point of time," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

"We have an established channel with (US Ambassador to Iraq) Ryan Crocker and we are taking a look at the suggestion to establish a subcommittee of that group which would actually be lower level, technically oriented officials."

McCormack made the remarks a day after US and Iranian ambassadors to Baghdad held a landmark second meeting on Iraqi security.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said earlier in the day that Tehran was prepared to consider higher-level talks with the United States over Iraq.

"The talks between Iran and the United States over Iraq at the level of deputy foreign minister can be studied," Mottaki said.

Crocker and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi Qomi Tuesday held talks on Iraq's security in Baghdad, Iraq with the participation of Iraq's delegation headed by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

This was the second of its kind since May 28 that marked the first direct talks by the United States and Iran in 27 years.

Crocker described the latest talks as "difficult discussions." He said there were "heated exchanges" when he accused in the talks Iran of providing direct support to extremist militias -- both training and actual weapons -- and that Washington had "the proof."

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2007)