Despite longstanding divisions between the countries, Iran may be helping the United States in its fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), says former Secretary of State James Baker.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Iran is not helping us quietly," Baker said in an interview with Tom Brokaw aired Sunday on
"Meet the Press."
Iranian help would be tricky, partly because of the history between the two countries. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage in Iran for 444 days between 1979 and 1981, and the United States later backed Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war.
The United States currently is leading negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, which critics in the United States say is an effort to acquire a nuclear weapons arsenal.
That said, Iran sees ISIS as a threat and has an interest in seeing it defeated.
A senior Iranian official told the
Associated Press over the weekend that Iran and the United States have exchanged messages over ISIS.
White House national security adviser Susan Rice, appearing live set, denied any such talks.
"We're not in coordination or direct consultation with the Iranians about any aspect of the fight against ISIL," said Rice, using the acronym preferred by the administration.
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger also was part of the interview with Baker and Brokaw.
"As long as Iran is ruled by the ayatollahs and places itself on a sectarian philosophy, we have to be careful," Kissinger told Brokaw. But, he added, "as a country, Iran is a natural ally of the United States."
It's the "religious component" that makes Iran an antagonist, he said.
Baker said he is optimistic about the situation, and also thinks the United States will be able to re-establish ties with Russia.
"I think that we will be able to handle ISIS," Baker said.
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