Iraq

In an interview with NPR, Mohammad Javad Zarif says the U.S. has been hesitant and contradictory in its approach to defeating the Islamist insurgency.

The "moderate" opposition has been losing ground on the battlefield and pleading for weapons from the U.S. for the past couple of years. They are hoping that their fortunes have finally changed.

In an interview with NPR, the national security adviser said the U.S. will not be drawn into a ground war in Iraq and Syria, even if local forces are insufficient at containing the Sunni militants.

The U.S. has secured commitments from some Arab nations and allies to cooperate in the battle against the militant group known as the Islamic State.

The disparities in naming are partly because of translation difficulties, and partly a sign of a propaganda war. The group calls itself the Islamic State; the Obama administration goes with ISIL.