The U.S. held its second round of talks with Iran on Tuesday to discuss security in Iraq, resulting in an agreement to form a security committee of experts from the U.S., Iran and Iraq.

Iran has instigated much of the bloodshed in Iraq. The terrible irony in discussing Iraqi security with Tehran is not lost on those involved. U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who represented Washington in the meetings, was not optimistic about Iran‘s recent behavior: “Roughly two months since our last meeting, we have actually seen militia-related activity that can be attributed to Iranian support go up and not down …. [T]hus far the results on the ground are not encouraging.”

Iran has supplied “weapons, explosives, training, and payments of up to $3 million per cell to a rogue offshoot of the Shiite Mahdi Army known as ‘Special Groups,’” according to a Christian Science Monitor report. The Iranian-backed groups even have bombs that can pierce armored vehicles. Iran is playing both sides in order to destabilize the area and frustrate U.S. policy (see “Intelligence Estimate: Al Qaeda Operating From Iran”).

Although it appears bizarre to include Iranians in security discussions, the reason behind the move is that Tehran already largely controls the security situation in Iraq.

“The Iranians are running the ship in Iraq, not the Americans,” Riad Kahwaji, who heads the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said. “They also have [many] more chips on the table in Iraq than the U.S. The situation in Iraq is strategically more in favor of the Iranians than the Americans.”

Since the U.S. believes Iran can control sectarian violence in Iraq, Washington has not only agreed to negotiate with the nation that fuels the violence it is trying to stop, but appears to be treating its officials as experts on the situation.

But the Iranian government doesn’t want to stop the violence in Iraq. The ongoing instability of Iraq is one of the best negotiating tools Tehran has. Washington is willing to sit down at the table despite Iran’s role in the violence and despite its continued warlike rhetoric and obstinacy regarding its nuclear program.

This is another sign of how weak-willed America has become and of Iran’s growing power throughout the Middle East as it continues to develop its role as the king of the south.