Iranian officials have shown concern over the recent victories of insurgents in Northern Iraq. As the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), in coordination with former Baathists, take control over more territory in Nineveh province, Iranian officials have expressed their readiness to help Iraq combat terrorism. Right-wing media outlets and officials have placed the blame directly on Western and Arab countries for supporting ISIS and other extremist groups.

Deputy Commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami said that terrorism in “various countries is the result of American and Western military interference.” He said that Iran’s forces, particularly the Revolutionary Guard, have acquired such capabilities that “There is no concern of a threat from arrogant powers.”

Bultan news reported, “When our president spoke about the expansion of terrorism at the UN General Assembly, no one thought that the terrorists would become owners of a territory.” The article blamed the swift ascendancy of ISIS on two factors: the inability of Iraq’s army to stand its ground, and foreign support for terrorists in the country.

The Bultan article asserted that a group such as ISIS cannot control large swaths of territory on their own and that there are other forces helping them. The article suggested that ISIS is attempting to take over this important Sunni-populated region with the help of local forces so that it can control activities on the border of Syria and Iraq. Cutting the connection between the Syrian and Iraqi governments will facilitate attacks against Iraq and weaken the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad.