Report by RFE/RL; photos by Mohammad Babaei, Islamic Republic News Agency
President Hassan Rohani says Iran is ready to consider cooperating with the United States on restoring security to Iraq if Washington takes action against Sunni extremist fighters in the country. “We all should practically and verbally confront terrorist groups,” Rohani told a press conference on June 14.

The comments come as Sunni-led insurgents seized much of northern Iraq in recent days — including the cities of Mosul and Tikrit — and are advancing toward Baghdad.
On June 13, the State Department said the United States is “not talking to the Iranians” about the deteriorating security situation in Iraq.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Washington is not sending troops back into Iraq to counter the militants’ advance, but it is looking into military options to assist Baghdad.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters