Israel calls on America not to cooperate with Iran on Iraq crisis

The Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs , Yuval Steinitz told "Reuters", in news seen by "Shafaq News", that “ Iran should not be helped to expand its influence in Iraq”.

He added that it would give Tehran a range of control extends through Syrian territory where the Iranians supported the Syrian regime, and to Lebanon, where they have representatives of their allies in the Lebanese Hezbollah.

The Israeli official said that Tel Aviv does not want to create a situation leads "to ease the U.S. positions on the issue that is considered the most threat to world peace, which is the Iranian nuclear issue,as a result of cooperation of the United States and Iran to support the government of Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki.

Steinitz added that the United States and other major powers pledged that any cooperation of this kind will not affect their quest to stop Iran's nuclear program.

He expressed optimism cautious that negotiations wont not affected by any international intervention in Iraq, and said, "We are concerned, but everyone, including the Americans , the British , the French and the Germans made us realize that there will be a complete separation."

Reuters quoted an Israeli security official - speaking on condition of anonymity - as saying that any extensive Iranian commitment in Iraq may modify the method of Tehran in nuclear negotiations because they may feel that they have obligations and might reluctant to provoke further crises.

But Steinitz rejected this view, by saying, "I will not ever look forward to resolve farce by another farce."

Washington has discussed with Tehran, "briefly" on Monday the crisis in Iraq on the sidelines of the nuclear negotiations hosted by the Austrian capital, Vienna, as announced by the U.S. State Department.

A U.S. official told the French press that it is unlikely to hold further negotiations in Vienna between Washington and Tehran over the crisis taking place in Iraq.