WASHINGTON — The Obama administration refuted rumors that they are offering concessions to the Iranian Islamist regime, in exchange for helping stop the advance of the terrorist group known as the Islamic State, ISIS or ISIL.
Reuters reported the official statement of the White House was that it would not seek Iranian cooperation in Iraq by offering flexibility with Iran in nuclear arms talks. Iran was negotiating with the U.S. and other Western nations on reducing its nuclear capabilities in exchange for the removal of crippling sanctions on the Persian Gulf country.
Iran said it would be open to such an exchange, if it would be asked by the U.S. to put down the Islamic State militants. The militants operate with impunity, raping and massacring towns and forcing Christians to convert to Islam or face execution. The al-Qaeda offshoot also murdered two American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, in cold blood and videotaped the beheadings, as well as a British aid worker David Haines.
The recently-minted White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the idea of an exchange was not possible for the administration. He said, “The United States will not be in the position of trading aspects of Iran’s nuclear program to secure commitments to take on ISIL.”
He also noted that the U.S. will not share intelligence with Iran nor coordinate military efforts with the Iranian government.
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