The U.S. Shouldn’t Collaborate With Iran on Iraq
As the Obama administration decides how to respond to the latest crisis in Iraq, one question that has come up is how to respond to Iran’s offer to collaborate with the United States on the matter. Official U.S. reactions have been mixed, and initial discussions have reportedly already taken place on the margins of the ...
As the Obama administration decides how to respond to the latest crisis in Iraq, one question that has come up is how to respond to Iran's offer to collaborate with the United States on the matter. Official U.S. reactions have been mixed, and initial discussions have reportedly already taken place on the margins of the P5+1 nuclear negotiations in Vienna. In Wednesday's Wall Street Journal, however, I argued that it would be a mistake for the United States to embrace Iran's offer to collaborate, or even to create the appearance that we are doing so through prominent bilateral talks on the matter. Not only will further Iranian involvement do little to stem Iraq's crisis -- it could also make matters worse. As I note in the column, the US should want to see less, not more, Iranian involvement in regional conflicts, given Tehran's history of sowing instability and supporting terrorism.
As the Obama administration decides how to respond to the latest crisis in Iraq, one question that has come up is how to respond to Iran’s offer to collaborate with the United States on the matter. Official U.S. reactions have been mixed, and initial discussions have reportedly already taken place on the margins of the P5+1 nuclear negotiations in Vienna. In Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal, however, I argued that it would be a mistake for the United States to embrace Iran’s offer to collaborate, or even to create the appearance that we are doing so through prominent bilateral talks on the matter. Not only will further Iranian involvement do little to stem Iraq’s crisis — it could also make matters worse. As I note in the column, the US should want to see less, not more, Iranian involvement in regional conflicts, given Tehran’s history of sowing instability and supporting terrorism.
Michael Singh is a senior fellow and the managing director at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He was a senior director for Middle East affairs at the U.S. National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration. Twitter: @MichaelSinghDC
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