Iranian President likens US-led airstrikes against IS to mere 'theatre'

Dubbing the aerial bombardment against the Islamic State as "a form of theater," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has reportedly said that the ongoing airstrikes against the extremist group is more of a "psychological operation" rather than a military one.

Rouhani said that a vast campaign of operations was the need of the hour and required a unison effort from all.

According to CNN, Iran and the United States have found their foreign policies surprisingly aligned in the past several months, as both try to beat back the advance of the Sunni extremists that have gained a foothold in Iraq and war-torn Syria.

Some five countries in the Middle East have joined hands with the US over a shared mission to wipe out the IS in Syria.

Rouhani said he'd like to distance himself "from the word 'coalition' because some countries haven't come together under the umbrella of this coalition".

Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Iran could play a crucial role in defeating the Islamic State group. Even while the US refrained from inviting Iran from joining the US-led military coalition, Kerry said that Iran could help "take out" IS.

Kerry said in a meeting of the United Nations Security Council that it was about taking out an entire network, decimating and discrediting a militant cult masquerading as a religious movement.

He added that there is a role for nearly every country in the world to play, including Iran.