"Iranians are Terrified": Iran's ISIS Nightmare -- Dina Esfandiary, National Interest
Iran is stuck between a rock and a hard place on ISIS and Iraq. Taking responsibility for security in Iraq – or even significantly contributing to it – would be a huge undertaking. But a fragmented Iraq on its border is a first-order concern for Tehran - it can’t just sit by with fingers crossed. The choice is complicated by Syria. Iran can’t continue to pursue its interests in Syria at the same level if it is mired in Iraq as well. It is likely that Tehran will have to choose, and it will choose Iraq.
To Iran, Iraq and Syria are similar challenges, except today’s crisis in Iraq is harder to solve and matters more. Until recently, Assad’s Syria has been a good friend and ally to Iran and still today, a conduit to the Mediterranean and Hezbollah. But Iraq is Iran’s backyard.
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My Comment: Bottom line .... ISIS is a jihadist movement dedicated to creating a Sunni Caliphate .... and they are on the Iranian border. They are no options for Iran on this one .... they will have to focus their energies to stop and/or curtail ISIS.