According to the British national morning newspaper, Independent, Iran seeks to build bridges with its neighboring states after its successful negotiations with the world powers which has led to ending a long-term dispute by signing a nuclear deal on July 14. 'A projected plan for Tehran to join an alliance alongside the West and Arab states against the Islamist group, with Russia also a member, was discussed during a visit by the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Moscow this week,' wrote the paper. It referred to the visit to Saudi Arabia by Iran's deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and said, he made 'an unexpected trip to Saudi Arabia recently to speak about ISIS. Zarif, meanwhile, has visited Lebanon, Kuwait and also Qatar. After the last meeting, the Qatari Foreign Minister, Khalid al-Attiyah, said there was a need to have a "serious dialogue with the Iranians" over mutual security concerns.' Referring to the ongoing crisis in Yemen as Tehran's 'most urgent concern,' the Independent added, 'But joining a broad-based campaign against ISIS has become an increasingly public goal for Iran. Tehran is already playing a part in fighting ISIS in Iraq in a de facto cooperation with Washington. 'Now, Iran wants a more formalized alliance and to extend its role to Syria. A senior Iranian diplomat told The Independent: "There is no border at the moment between Iraq and Syria and ISIS has its headquarters in Syria, so it is artificial to keep a campaign just to Iraq. After all, that is why Britain wants to join the Americans in extending bombing from Iraq to Syria. Iran can defeat Isis." The British paper noted there would, however, be 'formidable obstacles' to Iran's taking a prominent role against ISIS in Syria as the opposition parties 'opposed to an Iranian presence in the country' since they insist that removal of President Bashar al-Assad is fundamental to a peace deal while 'Tehran is still standing by him.' 'The Israelis, who view Iran as an existential threat, and who were bitterly opposed the nuclear deal, would not be willing to accept Iranian forces across the border in Syria. They will lobby Washington to prevent this happening.' Meanwhile, argued the British daily, 'Federica Mogherini, the European Union High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, believes that the nuclear deal with Tehran "opens the way for a new confidence in combating ISIS". 'Egypt, which had quietly bowed out of earlier plans to lead an Arab League ground force into Yemen and finds itself fighting an increasingly violent ISIS insurgency in the Sinai, is seeking a strategic security partnership with Iran and offering to mediate between Tehran and Riyadh, according to Mohammed Haykal, the prominent commentator and former adviser to President Gamal Abdel Nasser. "The time has come to put aside past differences and face the common enemy," said an Iranian diplomat. "We managed to reach an agreement on the very complex nuclear issue. Why can't we form an agreement to fight the terrorists of ISIS?"
