WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has secretly written to Iran’s supreme leader to discuss possible cooperation in the fight against Islamic militants provided there is a nuclear deal.
Obama sent the letter last month to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and described what he called a “shared fight” against the Sunni militant Islamic State group, the Wall Street Journal said yesterday, citing “people briefed on the correspondence.”
Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic ties since the 1979 storming of the American embassy in Tehran and the 444-day hostage crisis.
But there has been a growing recognition that Iran — dubbed by Washington a state sponsor of terrorism — could play a role in helping to restore stability in countries such as Iraq and Syria.
Refusing to deny or confirm the report, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said: “I’m not in a position to discuss private correspondence between the president and any world leader.”
Iran and the United States are currently negotiating a deal to rein in Iranian nuclear ambitions in exchange for an easing of crippling international sanctions against the Islamic republic.
In his letter, Obama reportedly stressed to Khamenei that any cooperation in fighting IS militants would depend on reaching a comprehensive nuclear deal, as a November 24 deadline looms.
The Journal said it was believed to be the fourth letter from Obama to Khamenei since the American leader took office in 2009. US officials told the paper that the Iranian leader has never responded personally to the overtures.
AFP
