Tri-Service

Australia and Iran to Share Intelligence in Fight Against IS

Australia and Iran have agreed to share intelligence with each other in the fight against Islamic State.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced that as part of the agreement between the two countries, information about Australians fighting alongside militant groups in Iraq would be exhanged, along with information gathered by Iranian operatives.

Around 100 Australians are believed to have travelled to Iraq and Syria in order to fight for IS.

Ms Bishop was quoted as saying by ABC News:

"It was an informal arrangement whereby we would share intelligence that would give us information on the Australians who are taking part [in the conflict in Iraq, fighting on the side of Islamic State]".

"I believe that Iran has information that we would seek and they were very agreeable to share that information with us."

The news comes amid concerns about the threat to domestic security in Australia from supporters of Islamic State and other radical groups, both within the country and those fighting in Iraq.

Five teenagers were arrested over the weekend over an alleged plot to carry out an attack at a World War One commemorative event.