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This image posted on a militant news Twitter account on June 12, 2014 shows militants from the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) raising their flag at the entrance of acaptured army base in Ninevah Province, Iraq. Fresh gains by insurgents, spearheaded by fighters from the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, come as Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-led government struggles to form a coherent response after militants overran the country's second-largest city of Mosul, Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit and smaller communities, as well as military and police bases -- often after meeting little resistance from state security forces. (AP Photo/albaraka_news) |
Iran, 25 years after the death of Ayatollah KhomeiniJohn Moore, senior staff photographer at Getty Images, recently traveled across the heart of central Iran in correlation with the 25th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini. Moore’s photographs offer a unique perspective into the daily life of Iranians. The following is an essay on his experience.
Iran is immense and fascinating, with more recorded human history than most of the West entire. I chose the timing of my trip to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic Republic. The commemoration promised to give me a day of solid news coverage with thousands of people visiting his shrine near the capital of Tehran. Although the anniversary was perhaps a modest news hook for the trip, my main objective was a road trip through central Iran, basically the huge swath of desert and arid mountains, which is home to important cities as well as archeological sites from previous Persian civilizations. I flew from my base in New York through Istanbul, where I caught a connecting flight to Shiraz. I arrived around 2:30 in the morning and was fingerprinted at the airport by Iranian immigration officials, who pointed out to me that Iranians face the same procedure when coming to the United States. In Shiraz, I was met by my team who would accompany me on my week-long adventure – Amir, my idiom-speaking translator and driver Mahmoud, who bore some resemblance to actor Robert Di Niro, albeit, thankfully, not to his character in Taxi Driver. For thousands of years Shiraz was known for its wine but, of course, no longer, because alcohol has been forbidden since the Islamic Revolution. It’s still a popular place to visit, in particular the grand and ornately carved tomb of the country’s greatest poet – the 14th century Hafez. At dusk and outside of Hafez’ tomb, I photographed a unique tradition as a handler’s parakeet chose fortunes from a box of verse for those willing to pay a small fee. I tried my luck and the bird produced this for me, “To the owner of this fortune – in the past you have had ups and downs in life. However, dwelling on those times is not good for your soul. You will have a bright future. So don’t ruin it by focusing on the past. Use past experiences for future success.” No arguing with that. From Shiraz we made our way through central Iran, and I concentrated on daily life scenes in villages and cities along the way. Already late spring, the afternoon temperatures were uncomfortable, hovering near a hundred degrees, so most people spend much of their days indoors. I tried to organize my travel schedule with the tougher long-distance drives during midday, when the light is harsh for photography, which meant I would be in more populated areas for photos as the sun set. For a week I worked this way, trying to put a modern Iran in context with Persia’s historical roots. I found a country whose people are eager to interact with foreigners and who were fascinated to meet an American photojournalist. I have worked quite a bit in the Islamic world in my career, having lived for three years in Pakistan, two in Egypt, and four in India. Iran turned out to far easier and more accessible when it came to photographing people on the street, living their daily lives. The people were surprisingly open to photography, even warm to me. It is apparent that citizens, everyday people, suffer under the international economic sanctions imposed by the West, which questions the nature of Iran’s nuclear projects. Still, I did not find the depth of abject poverty that I’ve witnessed across the border in Afghanistan. The Khomeini anniversary drew thousands of conservatives, many of whom chanted “Death to America!” as they shook their fists at television cameras. Nevertheless, when they approached me to ask who I was where I was from, I simply told the truth: I am an American, a Texan now living in New York City, Most were surprised, listened politely, then asked to shake my hand. By and large, most of the people I reached out to had never met an American. Although the trip was but a week, I covered a lot of ground and saw far more than I had hoped for. Perhaps my photos reveal something of the country and it’s people, a vision that Americans may not have expected to see. Of course there are so many more stories to tell. I would like to return by the Fall. There’s so much more to explore. If Iran and the West reach a deal by the end of the year as a result of nuclear negotiations, the country would see a lifting of sanctions, opening Iran to considerably more international business investment. On my next trip I’d like to explore further some of these potential business opportunities and, if possible, photograph within the energy sector. (The country has the third largest oil reserves in the world.) When applying for a journalist visa, we have to list the stories we’d like to cover, as I’ve just done, so let’s see if I get access. I plan to heed the poet Hafez’ advice, given through his feathered messenger, “Use past experiences for future success.”
- John Moore, Getty Images
NARIN, IRAN - JUNE 01: A scarecrow stands vigil over a backyard garden, as does a photo of Iran's current supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Kamenei on June 1, 2014 in Narin, in central Iran. Narin, known for its mud brick architecture and handicrafts, has been a prominent stop on trade routes since the Sassanid era. On June 4 Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Komeini and his Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)# SHIRAZ, IRAN - MAY 29: A cutout of a woman in Iranian dress stands in front of the Karim Khani Palace, also a former prison, on May 29, 2014 in Shiraz, Iran. Shiraz, celebrated for more than 2,000 years as the heartland of Persian culture, is known as the home of Iranian poetry and for its progressive attitudes and tolerance. Like all of Iran, this week Shiraz observes the 25th anniversary of the death and continued legacy of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # PERSEPOLIS, IRAN - MAY 30: Tourists walk through the ancient Persepolis archeological site on May 30, 2014 in Persepolis, Iran. The ruins mark the site of the 6th century BC Persian Achaemenid Empire, the largest empire the world had known up to that time, eventually ended by Alexander the Great. This week marks the 25th anniversary of the death and continued legacy of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of Iran's Islamic Revolution, only the latest chapter of Persia's long history. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # SHIRAZ, IRAN - MAY 29: People touch the tomb of beloved Iranian poet Hafez on May 29, 2014 in Shiraz, Iran. Thousands of Muslim pilgrims visit to pray at the shrine, one of the holiest Shiite sites in Iran. Shiraz, celebrated for more than 2,000 years as the heartland of Persian culture, is known as the home of Iranian poetry and for its tolerant and progressive culture. Like all of Iran, this week Shiraz observes the 25th anniversary of the death and continued legacy of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 02: A couple lies in the Unesco-listed Naqsh-eJanan Square on June 2, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. Isfahan, with it's immense mosques, picturesque bridges and ancient historic bazaar, is a virtual living museum of Iranian traditional culture. It's also the Iran's top tourist destination for both Iranian and domestic visitors. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. Naqsh-eJanan Square is the second largest square on earth after Tiananmen Square in Beijing. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 02: People ride horse carriages in the Unesco-listed Naqsh-eJanan Square on June 2, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. Isfahan, with it's immense mosques, picturesque bridges and ancient bazaar, is a virtual living museum of Iranian traditional culture. It's also the Iran's top tourist destination for both Iranian and domestic visitors. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. Naqsh-eJanan Square is the second largest square on earth after Tiananmen Square in Beijing. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # QOM, IRAN - JUNE 03: An Islamic Mullah walks past a portrait of the late Ayatollah Khomeini on June 3, 2014 in Qom, Iran. Iran is marking the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # SHIRAZ, IRAN - MAY 29: Photos and poems adorn the entrance of a calligraphy workshop on May 29, 2014 in Shiraz, Iran. Shiraz, celebrated for more than 2,000 years as the heartland of Persian culture, is known as the home of Iranian poetry and for its progressive attitudes and tolerance. Like all of Iran, this week Shiraz observes the 25th anniversary of the death and continued legacy of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # YAZD, IRAN - JUNE 01: Hotel doorman Aboul Fazl Kalantari (L), and driver Mohammad Ali Khabiri await guests in the lobby of the Moshir-al-Mamalek Garden Hotel on June 1, 2014 in Yazd, Iran. Kalantari is one of two employees with dwarfism hired as doormen at the hotel. Such "traditional" hotels are common in the desert town of Yazd, one of Iran's main tourist destinations. On June 4 Iran marks the 25th anniversary of Khomeini's death and the legacy of his Iranian Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # SHIRAZ, IRAN - MAY 29: A crowd-control volunteer waves a feather duster the Aramgah-e Shah-e Cheragh shrine on May 29, 2014 in Shiraz, Iran. Thousands of Muslim pilgrims visit to pray at the shrine, one of the holiest Shiite sites in Iran. Shiraz, celebrated for more than 2,000 years as the heartland of Persian culture, is known as the home of Iranian poetry and for its tolerant and progressive culture. Like all of Iran, this week Shiraz observes the 25th anniversary of the death and continued legacy of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # SHIRAZ, IRAN - MAY 29: A parakeet awaits customers in order to choose a "fortune" outside of the beloved Iranian poet Hafez's tomb on May 29, 2014 in Shiraz, Iran. Customers pay a handler for the bird to choose a piece of paper from a box with a verse of Hafez's poetry meant to give advice for future endeavors. Shiraz, celebrated for more than 2,000 years as the heartland of Persian culture, is known as the home of Iranian poetry and for its progressive attitudes and tolerance. Like all of Iran, this week Shiraz observes the 25th anniversary of the death and continued legacy of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # SHIRAZ, IRAN - MAY 29: A woman smokes a hookah while visiting a poetry calligraphy workshop on May 29, 2014 in Shiraz, Iran. Shiraz, celebrated for more than 2,000 years as the heartland of Persian culture, is known as the home of Iranian poetry and for its progressive attitudes and tolerance. Like all of Iran, this week Shiraz observes the 25th anniversary of the death and continued legacy of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ABYANEH, IRAN - JUNE 03: A donkey stands amongst traditional mud brick homes on June 3, 2014 in the ancient mountain village of Abyaneh, Iran. Iran on June 4, will mark the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 03: An employee walks up a grand staircase in the lobby of the Abbasi Hotel on June 3, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. On Iran on June 4, will mark the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 02: Portraits of the late Ayatollah Khomeini (L) and Iran's current supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei gaze hang over an elevator in the new Isfahan City Center shopping mall on June 2, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. The mall complex, still under construction, is the largest shopping center in Iran and will include a 5-star hotel, a financial center and an entertainment center with cinema and fair complex. The mall is being built by Prestige Land Iran and was designed by architect Madardo Cadiz of Cadiz International. Historic Isfahan, with it's immense mosques, picturesque bridges and ancient historic bazaar, is a virtual living museum of Iranian traditional culture. It's also the Iran's top tourist destination for both Iranian and domestic visitors. On June 4 Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 02: A carpet vendor awaits customers at his shop in the Bazar-e Bozorg on June 2, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. International sactions have severely affected Iran's carpet industry. Isfahan, with it's immense mosques, picturesque bridges and ancient historic bazaars, is a virtual living museum of Iranian traditional culture. It's also the Iran's top tourist destination for both Iranian and domestic visitors. On June 4 Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. In the background of the photo is the Imam Mosque, known as the Shah Mosque before the revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # NASRABAD, IRAN - MAY 30: Goats seek out grazing material at sunset on May 30, 2014 near the village of Nasrabad, in central Iran. This week marks the 25th anniversary of the death and continued legacy of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of Iran's Islamic Revolution, only the latest chapter of Persia's long history. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # MEYBOD, IRAN - JUNE 01: A tour guide points to the horizon while leading a group of Spanish tourists through the ruins of an ancient fortress on June 1, 2014 in Meybod, Iran. This week Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Khomeini and the legacy of his Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 02: A shopper leaves the Hyper Star market, near a sculpture of a shopper, at the new Isfahan City Center shopping mall on June 2, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. The mall, still under construction, is the largest shopping center in Iran and will include a 5-star hotel, a financial center and an entertainment center with cinema and fair complex. The mall is being built by Prestige Land Iran and was designed by architect Madardo Cadiz of Cadiz International. Historic Isfahan, with it's immense mosques, picturesque bridges and ancient historic bazaar, is a virtual living museum of Iranian traditional culture. It's also the Iran's top tourist destination for both Iranian and domestic visitors. On June 4 Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 02: Women shop in the Daewoo applaince store located in the new Isfahan City Center shopping mall on June 2, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. The mall, still under construction, is the largest shopping center in Iran and will include a 5-star hotel, a financial center and an entertainment center with cinema and fair complex. The mall is being built by Prestige Land Iran and was designed by architect Madardo Cadiz of Cadiz International. Historic Isfahan, with it's immense mosques, picturesque bridges and ancient historic bazaar, is a virtual living museum of Iranian traditional culture. It's also the Iran's top tourist destination for both Iranian and domestic visitors. On June 4 Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # QOM, IRAN - JUNE 03: A woman dressed in traditional Iranian hijab withdraws money from an ATM machine on June 3, 2014 in Qom, Iran. Iran is marking the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # SHAHINSHAHR, IRAN - JUNE 03: A woman fills her gas tank at a service station on June 3, 2014 in Shahinshahr, Iran. Gas prices, which are regulated by the Iranian government, have risen sharply in the last month. Iran on June 4, will mark the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 02: A father and son spend dusk together in the Unesco-listed Naqsh-eJanan Square on June 2, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. Isfahan, with it's immense mosques, picturesque bridges and ancient bazaar, is a virtual living museum of Iranian traditional culture. It's also the Iran's top tourist destination for both Iranian and domestic visitors. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. Naqsh-eJanan Square is the second largest square on earth after Tiananmen Square in Beijing. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 02: A couple share a moment together behind a park hedgerow on June 2, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. Isfahan, with it's immense mosques, picturesque bridges and ancient historic bazaar, is a virtual living museum of Iranian traditional culture, and is Iran's top tourist destination. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)# TEHRAN, IRAN - JUNE 04: People turn in their mobile phones before being allowed to enter the shrine to the Ayatollah Khomeini on the 25th anniversary of his death on June 4, 2014 on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran. Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, is still revered by many Iranians, and his portrait hangs throughout the country. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # YAZD, IRAN - JUNE 01: A driver and translator drive pass pedestrians on June 1, 2014 in Yazd, Iran. The old city of Yazd is considered one of the oldest towns on earth, according to UNESCO. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # TEHRAN, IRAN - JUNE 04: Women hold up their hands pledging to offer their lives, if needed, for the Islamic Revolution outside the shrine of the Ayatollah Khomeini on the 25th anniversary of his death on June 4, 2014 on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran. Thousands of people gathered to hear speeches to mark the event. Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, is still revered by many Iranians, and his portrait hangs throughout the country. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # YAZD, IRAN - JUNE 01: An Iranian army soldier poses for a photo while visiting the Zoroastrian Fire Temple on June 1, 2014 in the desert town of Yazd, Iran. Originally from Tehran, he said he is in the last part of his 21-month obligatory national military service, and is eager to finish to resume work as as a store clerk. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the legacy of his Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # YAZD, IRAN - JUNE 01: A boy kicks up water in a public fountain near the Amir Chakhmaq Hosseinieh facade on June 1, 2014 in the desert town of Yazd, Iran. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the legacy of his Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # YAZD, IRAN - JUNE 01: Hamid Heydari, host and watchman of the Fahadan Great Hotel, walks past the building's rooftop wind tower "badgir" on June 1, 2014 in the desert town of Yazd, Iran. The town's roofscape is a virtual forest of badgirs, which catch even the slightest breeze and funnel it down into hotels, homes and water reservoirs as an ancient and eco-friendly cooling system. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # YAZD, IRAN - JUNE 01: A family rides a motorcycle past the Amir Chakhmaq Hosseinieh worship site, one of the largest such structures in Iran, on June 1, 2014 in the desert town of Yazd, Iran. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the legacy of his Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # TEHRAN, IRAN - JUNE 04: Youth gather at the shrine to the Ayatollah Khomeini (in portrait on left), on the 25th anniversary of his death on June 4, 2014 on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran. Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, is still revered by conservative Iranians, and his portrait hangs throughout the country. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # KASHAN, IRAN - JUNE 03: A wax figure stands behind glass in a historic display in the bathhouse of the Fin Garden on June 3, 2014 in Kashan, Iran. Iran on June 4, will mark the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 02: A carpet vendor pushes his stock through the historic Bazar-e Bozorg on June 2, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. International sactions have severely affected Iran's carpet industry. Isfahan, with it's immense mosques, picturesque bridges and ancient historic bazaars, is a virtual living museum of Iranian traditional culture. It's also the Iran's top tourist destination for both Iranian and domestic visitors. On June 4 Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. In the background of the photo is the Imam Mosque, known as the Shah Mosque before the revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # YAZD, IRAN - JUNE 01: A man nibbles from his purchase next to a textile shop on June 1, 2014 in the desert town of Yazd, Iran. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the legacy of his Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # YAZD, IRAN - JUNE 01: A cyclist passes a banner featuring the Ayatollah Khomeini on June 1, 2014 in the desert town of Yazd, Iran. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of Khomeini's death and the legacy of his Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # NASRABAD, IRAN - MAY 30: A shepherd herds goats at sunset on May 30, 2014 near the village of Nasrabad, in central Iran. This week marks the 25th anniversary of the death and continued legacy of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of Iran's Islamic Revolution, only the latest chapter of Persia's long history. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # YAZD, IRAN - JUNE 01: A girl runs past a horse trailer in the old city on June 1, 2014 in the desert town of Yazd, Iran. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the legacy of his Islamic Revolution. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) # ISFAHAN, IRAN - JUNE 02: People spend a late afternoon in the Unesco-listed Naqsh-eJanan Square on June 2, 2014 in Isfahan, Iran. Isfahan, with it's immense mosques, picturesque bridges and ancient historic bazaar, is a virtual living museum of Iranian traditional culture. It's also the Iran's top tourist destination for both Iranian and domestic visitors. On June 4, Iran marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his legacy of the Islamic Revolution. Naqsh-eJanan Square is the second largest square on earth after Tiananmen Square in Beijing. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) | Iran offers to work WITH the US to stop the ISIS horde from overrunning Baghdad
Shi'te Muslim Iran is so alarmed by Sunni insurgent gains in Iraq that it may be willing to cooperate with Washington in helping Baghdad fight back, a senior Iranian official told Reuters today. The idea is being discussed internally among the Islamic Republic's leadership, the senior Iranian official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official had no word on whether the idea had been raised with any other party. Officials say Iran will send its neighbor advisers and weaponry, although probably not troops, to help its ally and Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki check what Tehran sees as a profound threat to regional stability, officials and analysts say. +6 Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, pictured here on Monday in Turkey with Turkish President Abdulah Gul, promised 'constructive engagement' with the world when he was elected. Tehran is open to the possibility of working with the United States to support Baghdad, a senior Iranian official said today Islamist militants have captured swathes of territory including the country's second biggest city Mosul. Tehran is open to the possibility of working with the United States to support Baghdad, the senior official said. 'We can work with Americans to end the insurgency in the Middle East,' the official said, referring to events in Iraq. 'We are very influential in Iraq, Syria and many other countries.' For many years, Iran has been aggrieved by what it sees as U.S. efforts to marginalize it. Tehran wants to be recognized as a significant player in regional security. +6 Sabre-rattling: An Islamic militant issues a call to arms, saying: 'Declare Allah the Greatest! Allah is the Greatest!' in a video released by ISIS +6 Trail of destruction: Militants of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant damage a patrol car of Iraq army in the city of Mosul Relations between Iran and Washington have improved modestly since the 2013 election of President Hassan Rouhani, who promised 'constructive engagement' with the world. And while Tehran and the United States pursue talks to resolve the Islamic state's decade-old nuclear standoff with the West, they also acknowledge some common threats, including the rise of al Qaeda-style militancy across the Middle East. On Thursday, President Barack Obama said the United States was not ruling out air strikes to help Baghdad fight the insurgents, in what would be the first U.S. armed intervention in Iraq since the end of the U.S.-led war. Rouhani on Thursday strongly condemned what he called violent acts by insurgent groups in the Middle East. 'Today, in our region, unfortunately, we are witnessing violence, killing, terror and displacement," Rouhani said. 'Iran will not tolerate the terror and violence ... we will fight against terrorism, factionalism and violence.' Asked on Thursday about Iranian comments, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: 'Clearly, we've encouraged them in many cases to play a constructive role. But I don't have any other readouts or views from our end to portray here today.' +6 Threatening: Men pose with automatic rifles and a stationary machine gun, with the ISIS flag propped up behind them +6 No resistance: The masked ISIS fighters waved the black flag of the Islamic State and flashed the 'V' sign while some shouted 'towards Baghdad' +6 Warlike: The Kurdish Peshmerga armed forces, pictured yesterday in Kirkuk, Iraq, could defeat ISIS, but are in no mood to Fearing Iraq's war could spill into Iran, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has urged the international community to back Maliki's administration 'in its fight against terrorism.' Brigadier-General Mohammad Hejazi said Iran was ready to supply Iraq with 'military equipment or consultations,' the Tasnim news agency reported. 'I do not think the deployment of Iranian troops would be necessary,' he was quoted as adding. The senior Iranian official said Iran was extremely worried about the advance of ISIL, also a major force in the war against Iran's close ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, carving out a swathe of Syria territory along the Iraqi border. 'The danger of extremist Sunni terrorist in Iraq and the region is increasing ... There have been several high-ranking security meetings since yesterday in Tehran,' the official said. 'We are on alert and we also follow the developments in Iraq very closely.'
Planeloads of American diplomats and contractors EVACUATE from northern Iraq as Obama says he 'won't rule out anything' in stopping jihadist violence spreading throughout the country
Three planeloads of Americans have been evacuated from a major Iraqi air base north of Baghdad as Al Qaeda-aligned militants have toppled cities in the country's north and threaten to advance toward Baghdad. The planes, loaded with diplomats and contractors stationed at an Iraqi airbase in Balad, flew out amid fears that the base could be surrounded by the militants. The passengers included 12 U.S. government officials and military personnel who have been training Iraqi forces to use fighter jets and surveillance drones. Scroll down for video +10 The planes, loaded with American diplomats and contractors stationed at an Iraqi airbase in Balad, flew out on Thursday amid fears that the base could be surrounded by the Al Qaeda-aligned militants (stock pic of Balad Air Base, Iraq) +10 The jihadist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has seized a large swathe of northern Iraq, including second city Mosul, and they threaten to advance toward Baghdad Militants from the ISIL staging a parade through Mosul The evacuation means that the training mission at Balad has been grounded indefinitely - despite repeated statements from the Obama administration that it would continue to support Iraq's military. Several hundred American contractors are still waiting to leave, although the State Department said on Thursday that the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad continues to operate as usual. The development signals the worsening security environment in the northern part of the country. A senior intelligence source told Fox News there is serious concern about how to evacuate other Americans out of Iraq if the situation further deteriorates. +10 Obama said on Thursday that it was clear Iraq needs additional assistance from the U.S. and international community given the lightning gains by the militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Levant Obama on Iraq, White House hasn't ruled anything out +10 Armed men watch and control Iraqis who fled the violence in Mosul: The al-Qaeda splinter group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant have captured the country's second city, 400 kilometres north of Baghdad The source said 'all western diplomats in Iraq are in trouble,' and American allies are scrambling to put together an evacuation plan. Military officials said there are 'not a lot of good options.' Other U.S. contractors are at a tank training ground in the city of Taji, just north of the capital, that is still in operation for now. The militants, who operate under the banner of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Shams, have issued threats to anybody who defied a harsh code of Sharia they have imposed in captured territories. Rule-breakers who ignore edicts banning drinking, smoking and ‘immodest’ behavior by women can expect ‘be killed or crucified, or have hands or feet cut from opposite sides.’ Less than three years after pulling American forces out of Iraq, President Barack Obama is now weighing a range of short-term military options, including airstrikes, to quell an al-Qaida inspired insurgency that has captured two Iraqi cities and threatened to press toward Baghdad. ‘We do have a stake in making sure that these jihadists are not getting a permanent foothold,’ Obama said on Thursday in the Oval Office. +10 Militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fire heavy machine guns during alleged fighting in the northern Iraqi city of Samarra earlier this week However, officials firmly ruled out putting American troops back on the ground in Iraq, which has faced resurgent violence since the U.S. military withdrew in late 2011. Obama, in his first comments on the deteriorating situation, said it was clear Iraq needed additional assistance from the U.S. and international community given the lightning gains by the militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. 'What we've seen over the last couple of days indicates Iraq’s going to need more help' from the United States and other nations, Obama said in the Oval Office. He added that the U.S. has been working 'around the clock' to find appropriate ways to intervene. 'I don't rule out anything.' he said, because we do have a stake in making sure that these jihadists are not getting a permanent foothold in Iraq – or Syria, for that matter. In his briefing with reporters, White House Press Secretary cautioned that Obama was 'responding to a question about airstrikes – or, would he consider airstrikes – and that's what he meant.' 'We're not considering boots on the ground,' he added later. Obama, however, also said that 'it's fair to say that in our consultations with Iraqis, there will be some short term immediate things that need to be done militarily, and, you know, our national security team is looking at all the options.' Republican lawmakers pinned some of the blame for the escalating violence on Obama's reluctance to re-engage in a conflict he long opposed. For more than a year, the Iraqi government has been pleading with the U.S. for additional help to combat the insurgency, which has been fueled by the civil war in neighboring Syria. Northern Iraq has become a way station for insurgents who routinely travel between the two countries and are spreading the Syrian war's violence. Iraqi leaders made a fresh request earlier this week, asking for a mix of drones and manned aircraft that could be used for both surveillance and active missions. +10 Refugees flee from Mosul which has been toppled by Al Qaeda-aligned militants who now threaten to advance toward Baghdad Al Qaeda splinter group advances into Iraqi town of Baiji Officials said Obama was considering those requests and was expected to decide on a course of action within a few days. The U.S. already is flying unmanned aircraft over Iraq for intelligence purposes, an official said. Short of airstrikes, the president could step up the flow of military assistance to the beleaguered Iraqi government, increase training exercises for the country's security forces and help boost Iraq's intelligence capabilities. The U.S. has been leery of its lethal aid falling into the hands of militants or being otherwise misused. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. is sending about $12 million in humanitarian aid to help nearly a million Iraqis who have been forced from their homes by recent fighting. Obama huddled with his national security team on Thursday to discuss the deteriorating security situation. And Vice President Joe Biden called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to underscore that while the U.S. stands ready to help, it would be crucial for Iraq to come up with longer-term solutions to its internal political strife. +10 House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has accused the president of 'taking a nap' while conditions worsened in Iraq Nearly all American troops left Iraq in December 2011 after Washington and Baghdad failed to negotiate a security agreement that would have kept a limited number of U.S. forces in the country for a few more years at least. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a frequent White House critic, called on Thursday for Obama's entire national security team to resign. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, accused the president of ‘taking a nap’ while conditions worsened. But Congress appeared divided over how to respond, with some Republicans backing airstrikes and other lawmakers from both parties suggesting that was the wrong approach. There were no calls for putting American troops back on the ground in Iraq, and Obama's advisers said the president had no desire to plunge the U.S. back into a conflict there. ‘The president is mindful that the United States has sacrificed a lot in Iraq and we need to not just be taking this all back on ourselves,’ said Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser. +10 Taking no prisoners: A man is executed by fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as the Al Qaeda-inspired militants continue their march towards Baghdad ‘We need to come up with solutions that can enable the Iraqis to manage their internal security and their internal politics.’ Even after American troops left Iraq, the U.S. has continued to send weapons and ammunition - although not nearly as much as Baghdad has requested. A U.S. training mission for Iraqi counterterror forces dwindled to almost nothing earlier this year, and Baghdad asked as early as last summer for armed U.S. drones to track and strike terrorist hideouts. The administration resisted, and similarly rejected options for airstrikes in neighboring Syria. Instead, the U.S. Embassy has sold small scout helicopters, tanks, guns, rockets and at least 300 Hellfire missiles to Iraqi forces. A U.S. shipment of ScanEagle surveillance drones is to be delivered to Iraq later this summer, and the State Department is trying to speed an order of Apache helicopters to Baghdad. Additionally, Congress is reviewing a $1 billion order of arms, including Humvee vehicles, to Iraq. +10 Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Iraqi special forces deploy their troops outside of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, the U.S. has continued to send weapons and ammunition - although not nearly as much as Baghdad has requested The Islamic State, whose Sunni fighters have captured large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria, aims to create an Islamic emirate spanning both sides of the border. It has pushed deep into parts of Iraq's Sunni heartland once controlled by U.S. forces because police and military forces melted away after relatively brief clashes, including in Iraq's second-largest city of Mosul. Skirmishes continued in several areas. Two communities near Tikirt - the key oil refining center of Beiji and the city of Samarra, home to a prominent Shiite shrine - remained in government hands, according to Iraqi intelligence officials. The price of oil jumped to above $106 a barrel as the insurgency raised the risk of disruptions to supplies. In its statement, the Islamic State declared it would start implementing its strict version of Shariah law in Mosul and other regions it had overrun. +10 The militants, who operate under the banner of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Shams, have issued threats to anybody who defied a harsh code of Sharia they have imposed in captured territories It said women should stay in their homes for modesty reasons, warned it would cut off the hands of thieves, and told residents to attend daily prayers. It said Sunnis in the military and police should abandon their posts and 'repent' or else 'face only death.' The Islamic State's spokesman vowed to take the fight into Baghdad. In a sign of the group's confidence, he even boasted that its fighters will take the southern Shiite cities of Karbala and Najaf, which hold two of the holiest shrines for Shiite Muslims. 'We will march toward Baghdad because we have an account to settle there,' he said in an audio recording posted on militant websites commonly used by the group. The statement could not be independently verified.
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