While the United States and Iran are not coordinating their attacks against the Islamic State (ISIS), there appears to be a de facto agreement to avoid aggression against each other, even though neither party is admitting it.
Iran has been more aggressive and open recently in its attacks against ISIS, instead of engaging in covert attacks against the Sunni extremists,
The New York Times reported.
The Obama administration denies any coordination with Iran in the fight against ISIS, while welcoming any help the Iranians are able to offer.
Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that "it's self-evident that if Iran is taking on ISIL in some particular place and it's confined to taking on ISIL and it has an impact . . . the net effect is positive," while adding that it's "not something we're coordinating."
Iran hit targets against ISIS in Iraq last week, which the Pentagon has confirmed, as the two countries are fighting ISIS more publicly than previously.
"We are flying missions over Iraq, we coordinate with the Iraqi government as we conduct those," said Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John F. Kirby.
"It's up to the Iraqi government to de-conflict that airspace," Kirby added.
Even the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, who has typically operated in the shadows, is working more openly on the battlefield, making rare appearances on state television and social media.
Iran has been most active in its fight against ISIS in Iraq, where it has been actively engaged in helping to keep Baghdad out of ISIS hands, which is part of the air campaign led by the U.S. military.
Iran's strikes against ISIS have been key in stopping the extremist group's advances, however, U.S. officials are worried that its presence could also backfire, by creating deeper divisions in the region and further destabilizing Iraq.
According to the Times, the Sunnis in Iraq fault the Iranian Shiite militias for the violence between the two groups, which makes them hesitant to engage in the fight against ISIS because of Iran's presence.
"Our message to Iran is the same today as it was when it started, and as it is to any neighbor in the region that is involved in the anti-ISIL activities, and that's that we want nothing to be done that further inflames sectarian tensions in the country," Kirby said.
The Iranian airstrikes against ISIS took place inside Iraq in eastern Diyala Province, near Iranian territory, in late November.
According the Times, the U.S. and Iranian officials will sometimes use an Iraqi official as a mediator when coordination is necessary.
Iraqi officials have cited Iran's lack of hesitation to jump in and help, while waiting on American diplomacy to commit to action, such as took place in June when ISIS captured Mosul and started heading for Baghdad.
"When Baghdad was threatened, the Iranians did not hesitate to help us, and did not hesitate to help the Kurds when Erbil was threatened," said Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, in a recent television interview in Baghdad, saying that Iran also considers "ISIS a threat to them, not only us."
The hope among Shiite politicians in Iraq is if the United States and Iran are able to reach a nuclear deal, it would allow for more open coordination between the two nations.
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.