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 The United States has already rejected a proposal floated by
Iranian officials in which Tehran would cooperate in the fight
against Islamic State forces in exchange for flexibility on its
nuclear program.
"No conversation, no agreement, no exchange, nothing, has created
any kind of deal or agreement with respect to any of the events that
are at stake in the Middle East," Kerry told reporters in Beijing.
"There is no linkage whatsoever of the nuclear discussions with any
other issue, and I want to make that absolutely clear. The nuclear
negotiations are on their own."
Kerry declined to comment on reports that President Barack Obama has
sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamanei, about
combatting the Islamic State militant group.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Obama sent a
letter to the Iranian leader last month describing their shared
interests regarding Islamic State.
Kerry is to meet Iran's foreign minister in Muscat, Oman on Sunday,
ahead of a Nov. 24 deadline for a comprehensive nuclear deal between
Tehran and six world powers.
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The new U.S. Senate, in which opposition Republicans will have a
majority following midterm elections on Tuesday, is likely to be
skeptical of any Obama deal with Iran. The U.S. President and Kerry
are keen to avoid the impression they are making trade-offs as part
of the nuclear deal.
(Reporting by Warren Strobel and Michael Martina; Writing by Ben
Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie and Jeremy Laurence)
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