Paris/Baghdad: France is prepared to invite Iran to an international conference on Monday aimed at coordinating actions to knock out the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) — even though that runs counter to the US refusal to deal with Tehran.
The position reflects a recent shift in France’s policy toward Iran, a neighbour of Iraq that joins regional states and the West in adamantly opposing the advance of the radicals. Tehran’s long-time influence in Iraq, including at times a military presence, makes it a logical partner in France’s eyes.
French President Francois Hollande landed in Baghdad on Friday and held closed door talks with Iraqi leaders on humanitarian aid and military support for Iraq’s fight against Isil insurgents, ahead of a Paris meeting on Monday of opponents of the militant group.
Hollande said France was the first European country to provide military aid to Iraq and was in the process of delivering its fourth shipment. He did not specify details.
Asked if Iran might attend Monday’s conference, the French president said both the French and Iraqi foreign ministries were still working to finalise the list of participating countries.
“The goal is to coordinate aid, support and action for the unity of Iraq and against this terrorist group,” Hollande told journalists at the start of his one-day visit to Iraq.
In Paris, a French official helping plan the conference says the only hitch is agreeing with partners, but added “we are not far from a consensus.” The official, who was not authorised to be publicly named, didn’t elaborate.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi, after meeting Hollande, said the French president “has promised me... France will participate in this effort striking the positions of terrorists in Iraq.” Abadi added: “The American side has begun doing that. We need this air cover. We do not need partners on the ground and they don’t intend to send forces.” Hollande did not address how France would contribute to the air strikes targeting Isil positions in Iraq, now being conducted by the US airforce and Iraqi military.
Instead, he said that Monday’s conference in Paris was intended to coordinate military aid to Baghdad from Iraq’s allies. “We are going to work with our allies. We know the seriousness of the threat,” Hollande told reporters.
US Secretary of State John Kerry made the American position on Iran clear on Wednesday in Baghdad. “The United States does not cooperate, militarily or otherwise, nor does it have any intention in this process of doing so, with Iran,” he said.
Iran is embroiled in a nuclear dispute with the international community, which fears Tehran’s nuclear capabilities will be used to make weapons. But French President Francois Hollande says that is a separate issue.
France has staked a tough stance in the nuclear dispute, but is viewing Iranian help in the region with pragmatism, stressing the overlapping concerns of Iraq, Iran and the West about the dangers posed by Isil. Paris believes Tehran should not be excluded from the effort to crush the radicals who now control a wide swath of Iraq.
France began arming Kurdish fighters against Isil last month.
Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Danaee, said on Friday that Iran would be happy to participate in the Paris conference since it has a great interest in the stabilisation of Iraq. He added that Iran is prepared to offer any support to its neighbour and hopes the conference will yield successful results.
After US President Barack Obama unveiled plans this week for an expanded campaign against Isil militants, France wants to show that support for Iraq is not limited to military action, one of Hollande’s aides said.
At the Paris conference, the French government aims to tackle Isil’s financing and recruiting as well as improving border controls and training of the Iraqi army.
