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| Kerry Says U.S. Is Open to Talking to Iran, Even as Ayatollah Is Dismissive | Kerry Says U.S. Is Open to Talking to Iran, Even as Ayatollah Is Dismissive |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| PARIS — The Obama administration is open to talking with Iran on the security crisis in Iraq, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday, even after Iran’s supreme leader angrily said Tehran would no longer discuss Middle East issues with the United States. | PARIS — The Obama administration is open to talking with Iran on the security crisis in Iraq, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday, even after Iran’s supreme leader angrily said Tehran would no longer discuss Middle East issues with the United States. |
| Mr. Kerry was speaking as 26 nations, Iran conspicuously not among them, gathered in Paris for an international conference on helping the new government in Baghdad fight the extremist Sunni group, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. | Mr. Kerry was speaking as 26 nations, Iran conspicuously not among them, gathered in Paris for an international conference on helping the new government in Baghdad fight the extremist Sunni group, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. |
| He acknowledged that he had opposed Iran’s attendance, but he stressed that the United States was still prepared to speak with the Iranians about Iraq and Syria, including on the margins of the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program that will resume in New York on Thursday. | He acknowledged that he had opposed Iran’s attendance, but he stressed that the United States was still prepared to speak with the Iranians about Iraq and Syria, including on the margins of the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program that will resume in New York on Thursday. |
| Just because the Iranians were not invited to the conference, Mr. Kerry said, “doesn’t mean that we are opposed to the idea of communicating to find out if they will come on board or under what circumstances or whether there is the possibility of a change.” | Just because the Iranians were not invited to the conference, Mr. Kerry said, “doesn’t mean that we are opposed to the idea of communicating to find out if they will come on board or under what circumstances or whether there is the possibility of a change.” |
| In Tehran, the tone was quite different. Iranian officials gave out flurries of statements to local reporters on Monday, saying that they had rejected multiple invitations by the United States to join the coalition. | In Tehran, the tone was quite different. Iranian officials gave out flurries of statements to local reporters on Monday, saying that they had rejected multiple invitations by the United States to join the coalition. |
| On Monday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, issued a scathing and, at times, sarcastic statement on the day he left the hospital after prostate surgery. In remarks posted on his personal website, he said he had enjoyed his recent time in the hospital because he had “a hobby,” which was “listening to Americans making statements on combating ISIS — it was really amusing.” Such statements, he added, are “absurd, hollow and biased.” | On Monday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, issued a scathing and, at times, sarcastic statement on the day he left the hospital after prostate surgery. In remarks posted on his personal website, he said he had enjoyed his recent time in the hospital because he had “a hobby,” which was “listening to Americans making statements on combating ISIS — it was really amusing.” Such statements, he added, are “absurd, hollow and biased.” |
| The Obama administration has long sought to separate the nuclear talks with Iran from discussions of regional issues, out of concern that Tehran might seek concessions in the nuclear negotiations in return for cooperating on Syria or Iran. | The Obama administration has long sought to separate the nuclear talks with Iran from discussions of regional issues, out of concern that Tehran might seek concessions in the nuclear negotiations in return for cooperating on Syria or Iran. |
| Mr. Kerry also acknowledged that the administration’s previous effort, led by the deputy secretary of state, William J. Burns, to draw Iran into quiet talks on Iraq and other regional issues had not been productive. “The confidential discussions never got to that sort of substance,” Mr. Kerry told reporters. | Mr. Kerry also acknowledged that the administration’s previous effort, led by the deputy secretary of state, William J. Burns, to draw Iran into quiet talks on Iraq and other regional issues had not been productive. “The confidential discussions never got to that sort of substance,” Mr. Kerry told reporters. |
| When ISIS burst onto the global stage this summer, some analysts speculated that Tehran and Washington might be able to narrow their deep differences over Iraq, Syria and the Middle East. The same thought occurred after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when the two antagonists shared a mutual antipathy for the Taliban in Afghanistan. | When ISIS burst onto the global stage this summer, some analysts speculated that Tehran and Washington might be able to narrow their deep differences over Iraq, Syria and the Middle East. The same thought occurred after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when the two antagonists shared a mutual antipathy for the Taliban in Afghanistan. |
| For a number of reasons, the fissures have not narrowed appreciably. First, in mobilizing international support for Iraq, Mr. Kerry has turned to Sunni Arab nations, which remain deeply suspicious of Iran’s intentions. | For a number of reasons, the fissures have not narrowed appreciably. First, in mobilizing international support for Iraq, Mr. Kerry has turned to Sunni Arab nations, which remain deeply suspicious of Iran’s intentions. |
| Both King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and top officials from the United Arab Emirates made clear to Mr. Kerry that they would not attend the Paris conference if Iran was present. So when the French raised the prospect of a role for Iran, Mr. Kerry was bluntly opposed. | Both King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and top officials from the United Arab Emirates made clear to Mr. Kerry that they would not attend the Paris conference if Iran was present. So when the French raised the prospect of a role for Iran, Mr. Kerry was bluntly opposed. |
| For the Obama administration, it came down to a choice between the coalition it is trying to assemble to support Iraq’s new government politically and militarily and an Iran whose allies include two longtime American adversaries: President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and the anti-American Shiite militias in Iraq. | For the Obama administration, it came down to a choice between the coalition it is trying to assemble to support Iraq’s new government politically and militarily and an Iran whose allies include two longtime American adversaries: President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and the anti-American Shiite militias in Iraq. |
| Second, Iran fears that the coalition Mr. Kerry is assembling will ultimately undermine Mr. Assad, who has been receiving extensive financial and military support from Tehran. To counter Iran in Syria, the administration is pressing ahead with its plan to train moderate Syrian rebels at bases in Saudi Arabia. | Second, Iran fears that the coalition Mr. Kerry is assembling will ultimately undermine Mr. Assad, who has been receiving extensive financial and military support from Tehran. To counter Iran in Syria, the administration is pressing ahead with its plan to train moderate Syrian rebels at bases in Saudi Arabia. |
| Finally, any form of partnership with the “Great Satan,” particularly one in which the United States plays a decisive role, is hard for Ayatollah Khamenei and his hard-line supporters to stomach. In pushing back, Iran appears to be arguing that it would not want to be part of any club that would not welcome it as a charter member. | |
| “Even the American deputy foreign minister, who is a woman and everyone knows her, had repeated this request in a meeting with Mr. Araghchi again,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, referring to Wendy R. Sherman, the under secretary of state for political affairs, and Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister. “But Mr. Araghchi also rejected her request.” | |
| Iran appeared to be signaling that it has a coalition of its own. Along with the ayatollah, a major Iranian-based Iraqi Shiite militia also bitterly assailed the United States on Monday. | Iran appeared to be signaling that it has a coalition of its own. Along with the ayatollah, a major Iranian-based Iraqi Shiite militia also bitterly assailed the United States on Monday. |
| “We will not fight alongside the American troops under any kind of conditions whatsoever,” the militia, Kataib Hezbollah, said in a statement on its website, adding that its only contact with the American military would be “if we fight each other.” | “We will not fight alongside the American troops under any kind of conditions whatsoever,” the militia, Kataib Hezbollah, said in a statement on its website, adding that its only contact with the American military would be “if we fight each other.” |
| The fiery words from Tehran appeared to have little or no effect on the international conference. The 26 nations that participated issued a statement pledging their support for the new Iraqi government in its fight against ISIS, including military assistance. But the statement made no mention of Iran or any role it might play. | The fiery words from Tehran appeared to have little or no effect on the international conference. The 26 nations that participated issued a statement pledging their support for the new Iraqi government in its fight against ISIS, including military assistance. But the statement made no mention of Iran or any role it might play. |
| “They committed to supporting the new Iraqi government in its fight against Daesh, by any means necessary, including appropriate military assistance,” said the statement, using the Iraqi name for ISIS. It added that the aid would be “in accordance with international law and without jeopardizing civilian security.” | “They committed to supporting the new Iraqi government in its fight against Daesh, by any means necessary, including appropriate military assistance,” said the statement, using the Iraqi name for ISIS. It added that the aid would be “in accordance with international law and without jeopardizing civilian security.” |