Another US geopolitical mess: Obama woos Iran over Iraq

The Iranian government, which the White House now sees as a possible partner in controlling the insurgency threatening to split Iraq, was cited just months ago by the US state department as a prime instigator of the Iraq troubles.

According to a report first carried by The Washington Free Beacon, US counter-terrorism officials warned about Iran's meddling in Iraq as part of its report on state sponsors of terrorism.

"Despite its pledge to support Iraq's stabilisation, Iran trained, funded, and provided guidance to Iraqi Shia militant groups," the report said.

The warning underscores the challenging geopolitical bind that President Barak Obama has been unable to resolve. In a confusing situation the US administration finds itself in a bind over whether to align with Iran in order to save Iraq from Sunni militants.

Meanwhile senior US defence officials confirmed to Fox News that Syrian war planes struck two separate convoys belonging to the insurgent Islamic State of Iraq and Syria on Saturday.

Moreover, the Syrian planes apparently struck with the help of Iranian intelligence.

There is no bomb damage assessment from the attack, but it is the first time there have been reports of Syrian warplanes having crossed into Iraq since ISIS fighters swept across Iraq beginning a week ago.

The strike raises the prospect of the United States, Iran and Syria all battling the same enemy in Iraq.

The Obama administration has openly advocated the ouster of Syria's Bashar Assad; hence the state department report on Iran raises serious questions about whether the US and Iran would really be working toward the same goals in Iraq.