Reuters reports that Iran is prepared to cooperate with the U.S. and its allies against ISIS in exchange for more flexibility from the 5+1 in the ongoing nuclear negotiations.
Reuters attributed the comments to unidentified officials who say Iran is demanding more flexibility regarding its uranium enrichment program.
Iran has considerable influence both in Iraq and Syria, the two major areas of activity by ISIS, and so far it has stayed outside the international coalition the U.S. is trying to assemble against the militant Sunni forces.
Last week, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that he had advised against cooperating with the U.S. in this matter, since the true objectives of the U.S. remain dubious from his point of view.
Reuters quoted an Iranian official saying: “Iran is a very influential country in the region and can help in the fight against the ISIL (ISIS) terrorists … but it is a two-way street. You give something, you take something.”
The quote goes on to add: “ISIL is a threat to world security, unlike our (nuclear) program, which is a peaceful program.”
Iran has steadily maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful and that it has no military ambitions in this regard.
Western diplomats have said, however, that the U.S. is trying to keep the nuclear negotiations focused on Iran’s nuclear program, given that the November 24 deadline to reach a final deal is fast approaching, Reuters reports.
