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Australia shares a common interest with Iran in fighting Islamic State. But beyond that common interest, the relationship is a delicate and complicated one.
Iran, the Middle East's leading Shiite power, doesn't just want to stamp out the Sunni extremist group that is causing ructions in Iraq and Syria, it is also determined to prop up and strengthen other Shiite regimes and forces.
That includes most notably the despotic Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, which has carried out atrocities against its own people and which the West cannot contemplate supporting.
Every blow to Islamic State in Syria strengthens the arm of Assad, which is probably the single greatest of many dilemmas facing the US-led coalition as it grapples with the IS.
The coalition can't defeat IS in Iraq without tackling it at its source in Syria. Yet bombing IS in Syria helps Assad.
When Australia consults with Iran over expanding RAAF air strikes to Syria, Iran will therefore happily back the idea if it is strictly confined to Islamic State targets. It will seek reassurance from Australia that RAAF planes will not target regime forces or give assistance to moderate Sunni rebels who are fighting Assad, and who the West in an ideal world would like to prosper.
Meanwhile in Iraq, Australia wants Baghdad's Shiite-led government to rule – as much as reasonably possible – equitably for Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds alike.
Iran is less concerned with the welfare of the Sunni minority. It is a powerful backer of Iraq's Shiite militias, who while doing much of the effective ground fighting against Islamic State are also responsible for their own atrocities against Sunni civilians.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has deepened Canberra's relationship with Iran on a number of levels and has called for closer co-ordination with it in the fight against Islamic State.
This has dove-tailed with the Obama administration's nuclear deal, which will relax sanctions against the former pariah state but has infuriated US Republicans and the Israeli government.
Australia's consultation with Iran over RAAF air strikes in Syria is in keeping with Bishop's push for a closer relationship and more co-ordination.
