President Obama told reporters Thursday that Iran could potentially play a "constructive" role in addressing the threatened takeover of Iraq by ISIL.
This comes on the heels of senior military officials in Tehran warning of repercussions for the U.S. if it intervened in Iraq, calling the U.S. "supporters of terrorists."
"Our view is that Iran can play a constructive role if it is helping to send the same message to the Iraqi government that we're sending, which is that Iraq only holds together if it's inclusive and that if the interests of Sunni, Shi'a and Kurd are all respected," Obama said. "If Iran is coming in solely as an armed force on behalf of the Shi'a and if it is framed in that fashion, then that probably worsens the situation."
Former CIA Deputy Director Mike Morell said flatly on Monday that the Iranians should be "kept out of this" and prevented from gaining any sort of foothold in Iraq. Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) said that the U.S. should not partner with Iran under any circumstances.