Iraq has long had close ties with neighboring Iran and has coordinated with Tehran in fighting the advance of ISIS - which controls about a third of Iraq and Syria in a self-declared caliphate. Iranian commanders have helped lead Iraqi Shiite militiamen in combat.
A U.S.-led coalition has been conducting aerial bombing campaigns against ISIS positions in Iraq and Syria, but U.S. officials insist they have no coordination with Tehran on the matter.
In response to the deal`s announcement, a Pentagon spokesperson told CBS News the U.S. remains committed to working with Iraq to defeat ISIS.
"As a sovereign nation, Iraq has relations with many nations and the agreements the Iraqis take that work to our common objective are up to them," said Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. Steve Warren in Baghdad. "We recognize that Iraq has an interest in sharing information on ISIL with other governments in the region who are also fighting ISIL. We do not support the presence of Syrian government officials who are part of a regime that has brutalized its own citizens."
More about:
