TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A senior Iranian official has confirmed that his country and the U.S. exchanged messages over the fight against the militant Islamic State group.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian also was quoted Saturday by Iranian media as saying Iran warned Washington that Israel’s security will be at risk should the U.S. and its allies seek to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad in the name of fighting the extremist group.

Iran has backed Assad during Syria’s three-year civil war. The U.S. has called for Assad to resign and rules out cooperating with his government in the fight against the Islamic State group.

Abdollahian’s comments were the first time a senior Iranian official confirmed that Iran and the U.S. had discussed fighting the Islamic State group.

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