Iran nuclear deal: West and Islamic Republic 'could cooperate in fight against Isis'

EU foreign minister Federica Mogherini claimed that the Iran nuclear deal opens opportunities for collaboration between the Islamic Republic and the West in the fight against Isis.

Mogherini arrived in Tehran today (28 July) to discuss the implementation of the deal between Iran and six major nuclear powers, in which economic sanctions will be dropped in exchange for increased inspections of nuclear facilities.

Writing in the Guardian ahead of the trip, the EU's top diplomat said the deal opened the way for cooperation between the West and Iran on a range of regional security issues.

She wrote that implementing the deal will require "strong political will, vision and a lot of hard work" and says "the same strong determination can build a different regional framework, one based on cooperation rather than confrontation".

She pointed out that one area for cooperation is the fight against Islamic State (Isis). Mogherini wrote: "There is nothing more worrisome to Isis than cooperation between 'the West' and the Muslim world, for it defies the narrative of a clash of civilisations the group is trying to revive. An alliance of civilisations can be our most powerful weapon in the fight against terror."

Currently, Iran-backed Shia militias and Iraqi security forces are leading the fight against IS in Iraq, where a US-led coalition has conducted airstrikes against the group's positions. The Pentagon has stated it is not working in coordination with Iran backed forces.

On Monday, Mogherini met Saudi Arabian officials to ease their concerns over the deal. Opponents of the agreement claim it will free up resources for Iran to back its proxies in conflicts in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon.

But Mogherini argues the deal could open the way for increased regional cooperation to end conflict in the region, with the Middle East currently "in turmoil" and sectarianism "on the rise".

"We need to get all regional powers back to the negotiating table and stop the carnage," she wrote. "Cooperation between Iran, its neighbours and the whole international community could open unprecedented possibilities of peace for the region, starting from Syria, Yemen and Iraq."