Baghdad, Iraq ? With politicians deadlocked over who will be Iraq’s next prime minister, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Sunday that planned talks with Iranian officials over Iraq-related issues would be delayed until a government is formed.

“We do not want to give the impression that the United States is sitting with Iran to decide about the Iraqi government. The Iraqis will decide that,” Khalilzad told Fox News Sunday.

Khalilzad and other U.S. officials have repeatedly accused Iran of meddling in Iraqi affairs by supporting militias and insurgent groups. Iran has denied such charges. Mutual agreement to hold talks here came last month, as international pressure intensified on Iran to terminate its nuclear program.