Baghdad ? Iran’s hard-line president has set March 2 for the start of his landmark visit to Iraq, officials said Thursday, but the Iranians postponed the next session of security talks with the United States.

The announcements came as U.S. officials sharpened their rhetoric against Iran. The No. 2 U.S. military chief in Iraq wrapped up his command with a warning that Tehran wants to keep Iraq’s government weak to block any challenges to Iranian influence.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani during his two-day visit, according to an Iraqi government spokesman. Ahmadinejad’s trip was announced last month, but Iraqi officials didn’t give a date until Thursday.