World Powers Entreat Iran for Role
NEW YORK (Dispatches) – German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was here to attend a special ministerial meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the crisis in Iraq, at which he made calls for the inclusion of Iran in diplomatic efforts to stem the ISIL militants.
"Despite the difficulties that we have with Iran and its nuclear ambitions, I am of the opinion that all of the neighbors of Syria and Iraq should be included," Steinmeier said.
"I sincerely hope that Iran will be considered, for only then will we be able to get control of the threat posed by ISIL".
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who was chairing the special UN Security Council session, also said that Iran had "a role to play" in preventing the spread of IS throughout the region.
"The coalition required to eliminate (ISIL) is not only, or even primarily, military in nature," Kerry said. "It must be comprehensive and include close collaboration across multiple lines of effort. There is a role for nearly every country in the world to play, including Iran".
Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif stressed that Iran will not team up with the U.S. against Takfiri ISIL militants.
In an interview with PBS NewsHour, Zarif said, "We were not convinced that the United States government is serious” in its claim to fight terrorism.
He also criticized the U.S. Congress plan to finance "moderate Syrian militants” in the fight against the extremists, saying the decision does not correspond with the so-called efforts to fight terrorism.
"You do not fight terrorism by weakening the central government which is the most important element in rejecting and opposing these terrorists. If you undermine the central government in Syria, that would enable ISIL terrorists to gain even more territory,” he added.
Touching on the situation in Iraq, Zarif said that the Iraqis themselves are capable of defending their territory.
In a nationally televised address, President Barack Obama said the United States will join "our friends and allies to degrade, and ultimately destroy, the terrorist group known as ISIL”.
On Friday, Obama also signed into law a piece of legislation authorizing the military to arm and train anti-Syria militants.
Earlier this week, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei described as "absurd, hollow and biased” remarks made by U.S. officials regarding the formation of the so-called international coalition to battle the ISIL terrorist group.
Kerry's new remarks appeared to represent a shift away from previous U.S. statements indicating a reluctance to cooperate with Iran. The United States cut off diplomatic ties with Tehran during a hostage crisis after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is the only country in the region that is both capable of and has shown unqualified determination to help the Iraqi government and coordinate with it to assist all those threatened by ISIL," Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told the council.
"Any real and genuine initiative to remedy regional predicaments needs to originate from within the region and be based on regional cooperation. Combating extremism is not an exception," he said, repeating Tehran's official view.
Kerry and Zarif are expected to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly next week where ISIL and Tehran's nuclear program will likely be among key topics of discussion.
"I sincerely hope that Iran will be considered, for only then will we be able to get control of the threat posed by ISIL".
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who was chairing the special UN Security Council session, also said that Iran had "a role to play" in preventing the spread of IS throughout the region.
"The coalition required to eliminate (ISIL) is not only, or even primarily, military in nature," Kerry said. "It must be comprehensive and include close collaboration across multiple lines of effort. There is a role for nearly every country in the world to play, including Iran".
Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif stressed that Iran will not team up with the U.S. against Takfiri ISIL militants.
In an interview with PBS NewsHour, Zarif said, "We were not convinced that the United States government is serious” in its claim to fight terrorism.
He also criticized the U.S. Congress plan to finance "moderate Syrian militants” in the fight against the extremists, saying the decision does not correspond with the so-called efforts to fight terrorism.
"You do not fight terrorism by weakening the central government which is the most important element in rejecting and opposing these terrorists. If you undermine the central government in Syria, that would enable ISIL terrorists to gain even more territory,” he added.
Touching on the situation in Iraq, Zarif said that the Iraqis themselves are capable of defending their territory.
In a nationally televised address, President Barack Obama said the United States will join "our friends and allies to degrade, and ultimately destroy, the terrorist group known as ISIL”.
On Friday, Obama also signed into law a piece of legislation authorizing the military to arm and train anti-Syria militants.
Earlier this week, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei described as "absurd, hollow and biased” remarks made by U.S. officials regarding the formation of the so-called international coalition to battle the ISIL terrorist group.
Kerry's new remarks appeared to represent a shift away from previous U.S. statements indicating a reluctance to cooperate with Iran. The United States cut off diplomatic ties with Tehran during a hostage crisis after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is the only country in the region that is both capable of and has shown unqualified determination to help the Iraqi government and coordinate with it to assist all those threatened by ISIL," Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told the council.
"Any real and genuine initiative to remedy regional predicaments needs to originate from within the region and be based on regional cooperation. Combating extremism is not an exception," he said, repeating Tehran's official view.
Kerry and Zarif are expected to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly next week where ISIL and Tehran's nuclear program will likely be among key topics of discussion.