Australia to consult Iran on Syria strikes, foreign minister says
Australia has emphasized the necessity of coordination with Iran if Canberra seeks to contribute to the US-led campaign purportedly targeting the Takfiri Daesh terrorists in Syria.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Wednesday that Iran would be one of the first countries Australia consults if Canberra decides to agree to a request by Washington to join the so-called coalition against Daesh in Syria.
Australia is currently part of a similar campaign in Iraq.
In a visit to Tehran in April, the Australian foreign minister said her country’s military assistance to the Iraqi government is coordinated with Iran and that both Canberra and Tehran share a common objective of providing support for the Iraqi government in its fight against terrorists.
“I have consulted with the Iranian leadership in the past on Australia's military role in Iraq, including training members of the Iraqi army,” Bishop told Fairfax Media, adding, “Australia conducts regular dialogue with Iran on a range of important bilateral, regional and international issues affecting both of our countries. This includes the activities of Daesh in Iraq and Syria.”
Iran has supported the Iraqi government in the battle against Daesh, which has seized control of some territories west and north of Iraq.
The comments by Bishop came a few days after Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott claimed that US President Barack Obama had raised the issue of Australia’s expansion of airstrikes from Iraq into Syria. Some Australian media outlets claimed later that it was Abbott and his administration that had pushed Obama to make such a request from Canberra.
Iranian officials have yet to comment on Bishop’s remarks; however, they have repeatedly insisted on the notion that any military move inside Syria should be directly coordinated with the government in Damascus and respect the country's sovereignty, otherwise it would be a violation of the Syrian territorial integrity.
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