JOEDAN'S KING WANTS TO IMPROVED TIES WITH IRAN

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JORDAN'S King Abdullah II said on Sunday he was seeking 'practical steps' to improve his frosty relations with Iran, a contrast to his regime's frequent criticism of Iran's policies.

The call came in a closed-door meeting with Esfandiar Rahim Mashai, director of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's office, Abdullah's Royal Court said in a statement.

King Abdullah has been one of Iran's harshest critics in recent years, warning that its growing influence in the region could undermine him and other pro-American moderates.

The Royal Court statement said King Abdullah accepted Mr Ahmadinejad's invitation to visit Tehran soon, but no date was set.

The Jordanian statement quoted King Abdullah as saying it was 'imperative to undertake practical steps for improving Jordanian-Iranian relations in the service of both countries, their brotherly people and joint Islamic causes and to consolidate security and stability in the region.' It gave no details of what steps might be taken.

As early as 2004, King Abdullah warned of Iran's growing influence in Iraq and the rest of the region.

ST