(Adds background)

TEHRAN, April 29 (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will attend a meeting of major powers in Egypt this week that will seek ways to end the violence in neighbouring Iraq, his spokesman said on Sunday.

"I confirm (that Iran will take part in the May 3-4 conference) ... Mr Mottaki will attend," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told Reuters.

Earlier on Sunday, the office of Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Iran had confirmed it will take part in the talks, expected also to be attended by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The U.S. State Department has said Rice is open to direct talks with Iran over Iraq.

Relations between Iraq and Iran, both predominantly Shi'ite Muslim countries, have improved since the downfall of Saddam Hussein. But the United States accuses Tehran of fomenting instability in Iraq following the U.S. invasion in 2003.

Washington and Tehran are also at odds over Iran's nuclear programme, which Western powers suspect is aimed at making atom bombs. Iranian officials deny the charge.

AlertNet news is provided by