Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Washington is considering direct talks with Iran on the security situation in Iraq. The move comes few days after US President Barack Obama said that "the United States will not involve itself in military action in the absence of a political plan by the Iraqis."
While the US and Iran are old adversaries, both have an interest in curbing the growing threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, linked to al Qaeda terrorists) and both are considering military support to the Iraqi government.
The US is said to be considering direct discussions with Tehran which could even take place as early as this week. Today the two countries will hold the latest round of talks on Iran's nuclear programme in Vienna.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said he will consider co-operation if the US takes action in Iraq.
Meanwhile, the US condemned as "horrifying" photos posted online by Sunni militants that appear to show fighters massacring Iraqi soldiers. In the scenes, the soldiers are shown being led away and lying in trenches before and after their "execution". The Iraqi military said the pictures were real, but their authenticity has not been independently confirmed.