Pentagon Refutes Claims of US Defense Cooperation with Iran over Iraq

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby

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Washington, DC – The Pentagon on Monday refuted remarks from the top US diplomat who agreed to military cooperation with neighboring Shia majority Iran to quell the Sunni led uprising in Shia ruled Iraq.

Addressing journalists the Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said there were no plans in the pipeline to consult militarily with Iran on Iraq.

Asked to comment on earlier remarks from the US Secretary of State John Kerry, Kirby remarked: “No plans to consult Iran on military activities inside Iraq.”

Secretary Kerry in an interview with an online media outlet said, “We’re open to discussions if there’s something constructive that can be contributed by Iran if Iran is prepared to do something that is going to respect the integrity and sovereignty of Iraq and the ability of the government to reform.”

Asked further if the US would consider military cooperation with Iran, Secretary Kerry said, “We need to go step by step and see what, in fact, might be a reality, but I wouldn’t rule out anything that would be constructive to providing real stability, a respect for the constitution, a respect for the election process, and a respect for the ability of the Iraqi people to form a government that represents all of the interests of Iraq, not one sectarian group over another.”

Later at the daily press briefing, the State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki clarified that Secretary did not mean military cooperation. “I would just confirm for you that the Secretary did not say military coordination or cooperation,” Psaki said, adding, “If there was a constructive – something constructive that could be contributed by Iran, if Iran is prepared to do something that is going to respect the integrity and sovereignty of Iraq and the ability of the government to reform, that that would be what we would discuss.”

“We’re not talking about coordinating any military action in Iraq with Iran,” reiterated Psaki, stressing, “We would encourage Iran to push the Iraqis to act to address problems in a nonsectarian way.”

Kirby, however didn’t rule out subject of Iraq coming up on the sidelines of P5+1 talks with Iran in Vienna. A Senior Administration Official briefing journalists via teleconference from Vienna agreed with Kirby, saying, “It may be that on the margins of the P5+1 but completely unconnected to it there may be some conversation.”

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