Following the takeover of Mosul and Tikrit by terrorist forces in Iraq, the situation continues to worsen as more of the Iraqi government looses more territory to Sunni extremists.

Iran President Hassan Rouhani announced that he would be willing to help Iraq's government in their fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). According to BBC News, Iran has close ties with Iraq's Shiite government; however, he told the BBC that Iraq had yet to ask for help.

"If the Iraqi government asks us for help, we may provide any assistance the Iraqi nation would like us to provide in the fight against terrorism," President Rouhani said on Saturday. "However, the engagement of Iranian forces has not been discussed. Providing help and being engaged in operations are different."

Rouhani added that if the United States was willing to cooperate in dealing with ISIS, they would think about helping.

Iraqi sources, however, told BBC News that Iranian troops were inside the country despite statements to the contrary by Rouhani claiming that Iranian troops had not yet entered the country and remains hesitant to militarily help Iraq.

The New York Times corroborated the allegations, stating that Iranian troops are in Iraq. Gen. Qassim Suleimani of Iran's paramilitary Quds Force flew to Iraq with several officers to advise the Iraqi government on how to handle the ISIS incursion. However, courting one of the U. S.'s greatest foes in the region may work well for Iraq.

According to the Times, Iraq's actions suggest that they want to put pressure on the U.S. to send help by seeking help from Iran. Though both countries have never seen eye to eye, the rise of a new and more dangerous enemy that could destabilize the whole region may make the U.S. and Iran put their differences aside.

"Clearly, any arrival and activation of Iranian military personnel on the ground in Iraq would be extremely significant, symbolically but also practically," Charles Lister, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center in Qatar, told The Times. "The terrorism threat in Iraq is perceived strongly by both Iran and the U.S."

However, the State Department said that they have not had any direct contact with Tehran and have simply told all of Iraq's neighbors to not further destabilize the situation by encouraging sectarian attacks.

Despite the fact that President Barack Obama has yet to agree on sending Iraq any military help, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel ordered an American aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf. According to Reuters, the move comes as a precaution in case President Obama decides to help Iraq or in case of an emergency.

The USS George H.W. Bush is escorted by the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and the destroyer USS Truxtun. The ships are expected to arrive at the Gulf by the end of Saturday, according to a statement released by the Pentagon.

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