White House: No military coordination with Iran on Islamic State

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice said Friday that the United States is not coordinating militarily with Iran in U.S.-led coalition efforts to combat the Islamic State.

Speaking to reporters from the White House briefing room on Friday, Rice also said she would not comment on a purported letter written by President Barack Obama last month to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei concerning their shared interest in fighting IS in both Iraq and Syria.

News of the letter, reportedly Obama's fourth to Khamenei since 2009, surfaced Thursday.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on Thursday declined to comment on "private correspondence between the president and any world leader" but acknowledged that U.S. officials have "discussed on the sidelines of [Iranian nuclear] talks on at least a couple of occasions, the ongoing campaign that is being conducted against ISIL by the United States and ... more than 60 members who are part of this broader coalition."

While there have been conversations between the United States and Iran concerning the battle against IS, Earnest reiterated the White House position that there will be no military cooperation between the two countries.

"The United States will not cooperate militarily with Iran in that effort; we won't share intelligence with them."

At Friday's media briefing, Rice also clarified that she intends to remain in her national security adviser position, despite speculation that a shake-up was imminent.

"I serve at the pleasure of the president, and I will continue to serve as long as he'd like me to," she told reporters.