Round table on Iraq CBC Radio Canada

Can ISIS bring the U.S. and Iran together?

Washington and Tehran don't agree on much, but they both see the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria as a real threat. As both countries consider how to respond to the militants in Iraq, one option is to cooperate.

"I don't think any of us want to continue to see this instability, nor this group gain any more territory, or power, or influence in the region."
Patricia DeGennario, Senior Fellow at the World Policy Institute

It's unusual for the interests of Iran and the United States to align. But some think the ISIS menace could actually present an opportunity to reimagine relations between the two countries after 40 years of hostility.

To discuss the future of Iran-U.S. relations, we were joined by three guests:

Ali Nourizadeh fled Iran after the revolution in 1979. He's now the Director of the Centre for Iranian and Arab Studies in London, England.

Patricia DeGennario is a Senior Fellow at the World Policy Institute who specializes in US Foreign Policy and International Security. She was in Washington

John Mundy was Canada's last ambassador to Iran until he was expelled in 2007. He's now a Senior Associate with the Centre for International Policy Studies at the University of Ottawa.

Do you think the situation in Iraq will improve Iran-U.S. relations?