The Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke met the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Medhi Akhundzadeh on the sidelines of the one-day international conference on Afghanistan at The Hague.

It was "brief and cordial exchange", the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, told reporters at The Hague when asked about it. "It did not focus on anything substantive. It was cordial, it was unplanned, and they agreed to stay in touch," she said.

This is for the first time in recent past that there has been a meeting between the leaders of Iran and the US.

"It is our hope that their attendance means they will play a constructive role in the future of Afghanistan and the stability of the region," White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs, told reporters abroad Air Force One en route London.

Separately, at her direction, Clinton said a letter was delivered to the Iranians focusing on three US citizens currently unable to return to the United States from Iran: Robert Levinson, Roxana Saberi, and Esha Momeni.

"In the letter, we asked Iran to use all of its facilities to determine the whereabouts and ensure the quick and safe return of Robert Levinson," she said.

"We also asked that Iran grant the release of Roxana Saberi and permission to travel for both Roxana Saberi and Esha Momeni. These acts would constitute a humanitarian gesture by the Islamic Republic of Iran in keeping with the spirit of renewal and generosity that marks the Persian New Year," said the Secretary of State.

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