Australia brokers intelligence-sharing deal with Iran

Australia and Iran will share intelligence to track foreign fighters working with the Islamic State group in Iraq, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Monday after a visit to Tehran. After meeting with Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, President Hassan Rouhani and Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign affairs adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Bishop said it would be an informal arrangement.

We have a common purpose with Iran in defeating Daesh and helping the Iraqi government.

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop

On Saturday, two men were arrested in Melbourne for allegedly planning an IS-inspired attack at Anzac Day commemorations on April 25 honouring soldiers who fought and died for Australia. Bishop, in the first trip to Iran by an Australian minister in more than a decade, said Tehran had a strong military presence and long relationship with Iraq, coupled with a sophisticated intelligence network in places where Canberra had no presence.

I believe that Iran has information that we would seek and they were very agreeable to share that information with us.

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop

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