The U.S. says it would be inappropriate for Iran to attend an upcoming meeting in Paris on how to defeat the Islamic State militant group.

Secretary of State John Kerry tells reporters in the Turkish capital he has not been formally asked about whether Iran should participate in the meeting of diplomats set for Monday in Paris.

But Kerry says Iran should not be there, given its support for Syrian President Bashar Assad in his three-year war against rebels that are trying to oust him from power.

The U.S. and the West are backing moderate opposition forces in the bloody war that has killed an estimated 190,000 people.

Kerry is in Ankara to press Turkey to join an international coalition against the Islamic State.

(AP)