BAGHDAD, March 10 (Reuters) - Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said he hoped a regional meeting in Baghdad on Saturday would lead to more gatherings in the near future to help stabilise his country.

"We hope this step is a start towards more steps in the near future for larger gatherings to reduce the tension," Zebari told delegates in his opening speech.

Iraq called the mid-level meeting to enlist support to end violence four years after the U.S. invasion but it was also a rare opportunity for officials from Washington and Tehran to meet at a time of growing tension over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

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