Iran denies linking cooperation on Iraq to sanctions

Iran has denied linking any future cooperation with the United States against terrorists in Iraq to the removal of western sanctions, Tasnim news agency reported on Friday.

Western media quoted Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif as saying on Wednesday that Tehran was ready to cooperate with Washington against the so-called Islamic State militant group in return for UN sanctions relief.

The claims are "unfounded," an Iran's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday.

What Zarif actually said was that "If we agree to do certain things at (the nuclear facility in the Iranian city of) Arak, then they should agree to do certain things in return; one of those things would be for them to go to the (UN) Security Council and lift the sanctions," the spokeswoman added.

Under an interim deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 that went into effect on Jan. 20, Iran would suspend some sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for limited sanction relief, and the two sides would negotiate over a comprehensive deal within six months.

After six months of negotiations, Iran and the six world powers agreed on July 19 to extend their talks until Nov. 24, as disagreements remained over Tehran's uranium enrichment capacity, its Arak heavy water reactor and the sanctions following 16 days of negotiation in Vienna.

The two sides are expected to hold meetings in New York in September.