Kerry: Iran talks independent of other Middle East issues

Kerry: Iran talks independent of other Middle East issues - Middle East Israel News | Haaretz

REUTERS - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday that there was no link between talkson Iran's nuclear program and other issues in the Middle East.

The United States has already rejected aproposal floated by Iranian officials in whichTehran would cooperate in the fight againstIslamic State forces in exchange forflexibility on its nuclear program.

"No conversation, no agreement, noexchange, nothing, has created any kind ofdeal or agreement with respect to any of theevents that are at stake in the Middle East,"Kerry told reporters in Beijing.

"There is no linkage whatsoever of the nuclear discussions with any other issue, and I want to makethat absolutely clear. The nuclear negotiations are on their own."

Kerry declined to comment on reports that President Barack Obama has sent a letter to Iran'sSupreme Leader Ali Khamenei, about combatting the Islamic State militant group.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Obama sent a letter to the Iranian leader last

month describing their shared interests regarding Islamic State.

Kerry is to meet Iran's foreign minister in Muscat, Oman on Sunday, ahead of a Nov. 24 deadline fora comprehensive nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers.

The new U.S. Senate, in which oppositionRepublicans will have a majority followingmidterm elections on Tuesday, is likely tobe skeptical of any Obama deal with Iran.The U.S. President and Kerry are keen toavoid the impression they are makingtrade-offs as part of the nuclear deal.