The ISIS crisis in Iraq plays right into Iran's hand," Schanzer, a former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, told Business Insider. "The regime in Tehran and the regime in Syria have been saying for months that they are the regional players that can help the West in its fight against terrorism. Despite the obvious irony — given the grisly terrorism track records of both countries — this may appeal to Washington, which is loathe to enter into new conflicts in the Middle East as it keen to 'lead from behind.'"