The United States and Iran may be bombing a common enemy in Iraq , one whom they both despise -- ISIS . Recent media reports from the region claim Iran 's military conducted air raids in eastern Iraq , and on Tuesday , a spokesman for the Pentagon said the reports might be true . `` We have indications that they ( Iranians ) have flown these missions in recent days , these airstrikes in eastern Iraq , '' Rear Admiral John Kirby told CNN 's Wolf Blitzer . No coordination , U.S. says . Is Iran coordinating with the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Sunni Islamist extremists ? Adamantly , no , came the answer from both sides . The U.S. is not working with Iran 's military , and it is not even directly communicating with it over operations in the country , Kirby said . `` We are not coordinating with nor are we deconflicting with Iranian military , '' he said . Both sides are leaving it to Iraq to manage their movements in Iraqi airspace and keep them both out of each other 's hair . Speaking from Brussels , Belgium , U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry did n't confirm or deny Iran 's military action , saying that 's up to the Iraqi or Iranian government . But he did say that while the United States is coordinating its military action with Iraqi authorities , `` nothing has changed '' as far as its lack of coordination with Iran . `` I think it 's self-evident that if Iran is taking ( action against ISIS ) in some particular place , and it 's confined to taking on ( ISIS ) and it has an impact , it 's going to be a net effect that is positive , '' Kerry said . `` But it 's not something we 're coordinating . '' Iran blames U.S. for regional unrest . A high-ranking Iranian military official also vehemently rejected the notion that there may have been any coordinated bombing , and he attacked the United States in his comments . `` The Islamic Republic of Iran blames the United States as the root cause of unrests and problems as well as the terrorist actions of ISIL in Iraq , '' Gen. Massoud Jazayeri told the government-approved FARS News Agency , adding that Iran wants U.S. influence to completely evaporate . In another FARS report , the head of Iran 's Revolutionary Guard characterized the United States as an enemy , not an ally . `` Today , the Americans are in a strategic dead-end and have experienced all possible options and strategies against the Islamic Revolution , but could n't attain their desired goals , '' Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said . `` The U.S. capabilities can no more be expanded and their capacities for initiating a change have reached the level of saturation , meaning that the U.S. is left with no more option but admitting the Islamic Republic of Iran 's real power . '' A common enemy . Yet ISIS is one of few issues that Iran and the United States agree on ; both countries want to quash the terror group that has been taking over large swaths of Iraq and Syria . But with no diplomatic relations with Iran and lingering concerns about its nuclear program , the United States has had to walk a tightrope over Iran 's involvement . This was reflected in comments that U.S. President Barack Obama made to CBS ' `` Face the Nation . '' `` There is some deconflicting , in the sense that since they have some troops or militias they control in and around Baghdad ... we let them know , 'Do n't mess with us . We 're not here to mess with you . ' We 're focused on our common enemy , '' Obama said . Iranians defend Baghdad ? Word of Iranian participation in the fight against ISIS is nothing new . A military official in Iran has said the world can thank his country that ISIS has not been able to assault Baghdad . `` The ( ISIS ) terrorists sought to surround Baghdad , but they failed in reaching their ominous goals thanks to Iran 's supports , '' Brig . Gen. Esmayeel Qa'ani told FARS . Qa'ani is lieutenant commander of the Quds Force , an elite unit of Iran 's Revolutionary Guard Corps . According to FARS , senior military officials in Baghdad said the Quds Force helped free the Iraqi town of Jurf al-Sakher from ISIS control . Conflicting interests . But the common interest is complicated by diverging interests . The United States wants to put an end to all Islamist extremism , and in the past , it has accused Tehran of sponsoring terrorism . Iran itself is an Islamic republic , governed by stringent Islamic law . But the state religion is Shia Islam , which Sunni Muslim extremists , such as ISIS , consider heresy . Fear of religious tensions . In neighboring Iraq , there is a tense and at times violent schism between Shia and Sunni factions , with the former dominating in government . Iran has close ties to the Shia faction . That has stirred fears in Washington that Iran 's involvement could not only weaken ISIS , but could also drive the wedge between Iraqis deeper . `` We want nothing to be done that further inflames sectarian tensions in the country , '' Kirby said of Iranian military actions . Iran is also a close ally of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad , who is battling ISIS as well . Beating back ISIS would take some pressure off of his troops . The United States is calling for al-Assad 's removal .
U.S. secretary of state says Iranian actions against ISIS could have a positive effect . An Iranian military leader says the United States is at a `` strategic dead-end '' Regional reports say that Iran bombed ISIS targets in eastern Iraq . Both the U.S. and Iran say their militaries do not communicate .