Iran says envisages Iraq role with U.S. if Washington tackles regional militants

Reuters ^ | Sat Jun 14, 2014 5:04am EDT | Parisa Hafezi

[GonzoII]

(Reuters) - Iran could contemplate cooperating with its old adversary the United States on restoring security to Iraq if it saw Washington confronting "terrorist groups in Iraq and elsewhere", Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday.

Rouhani, a relative moderate who has presided over a thaw in Iran's relations with the West, added that Tehran stood ready to provide help to Iraq within the framework of international law, but so far Baghdad had not requested such assistance.

Shi'ite Muslim Iran has been alarmed by the seizure this week of several major northern Iraqi towns by Sunni Islamist insurgent forces and their sweep southward to within an hour's drive of Baghdad, and not far from the Iranian border.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters earlier this week that Tehran, which has strong leverage in Shi'ite-majority Iraq, may be ready to cooperate with the United States in helping Baghdad fight back against the jihadist ISIL rebels. "We all should practically and verbally confront terrorist groups," Rouhani told a press conference broadcast live on state television.

[Sacajaweau]

Iran can use their WMD to boost their weapons inventory.

This will unite Iran, Iraq and Syria...and they're all friggin' Muzzie nuts.

[GeneralisimoFranciscoFranco]

What could go wrong?

Let it burn.

[CPOSharky]

...just waitin’ for the decision comin’ out of Palm Springs that will have the absolutely, unexpected, worst results.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“This will unite Iran, Iraq and Syria...and they’re all friggin’ Muzzie nuts. “

Add Lebanon to the list.

[grania]

In this world gone nuts, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon and maybe Egypt could band together to disarm the terrorists who have been armed by the US?

Heck, while they're at it maybe they could free that Christian woman in Sudan and the captured girls in Nigeria. (sarcasm)