Australian officials today announced an intelligence-sharing agreement with Iran, with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop capping off a rare visit to Tehran in the announcement.
“We have a common purpose with Iran in defeating ISIS and helping the Iraqi government,” Bishop declared. Earlier in the visit, Bishop cheered Iran for their involvement in the ISIS war.
The move is something of a public split with the US, which has loudly refused to cooperate with Iran in the war, and used Iraqi PM Hayder Abadi’s recent visit to condemn Iran and demand they place their troops directly under Iraqi control.
This has been a recurring problem within the ISIS war since the US insinuated itself into the conflict last summer, with the US and most of its coalition refusing to coordinate with Iran or Syria, two of the primary forces on their own side of the war.
That's shocking. Are the Australians growing some gonads and regaining their sovereignty all of the sudden?
This is no split with the US. This is the US saying one thing and doing the other. Normal.
The Australians did this for the US, not despite the US. They just wouldn't do it despite the US, that isn't what their current government is.
At the same time, France talks to Assad, and the US invites Iran to the Syria talks. It is all of a piece.
Watch what they do, not what they say.
This is like the US Navy assisting the blockade of Yemen. It might be helping the Saudis, or it might be limiting the Saudis and letting food in. We'll have to see. Betting on the US choosing good behavior is too much, given the past, but watchful is still warranted. A lot is happening, not all of it bad. The nuclear deal could succeed.
Your cautious optimism gives me hope, Mark.