Iran ain't the freaking bogeyman.
It's a mid-sized regional power surrounded by US military bases and lots of hostile neighbors. The US invaded the country to the east of it in 2001 and the one west of it in 2003. The US is obliquely threatening to attack it now (as the background to the nuclear negotiations), and mad dog Netanyahu is threatening to do it himself if we don't. (Though maybe he'll be gone after next week, knock on wood.)
Iran of course tries to extend its influence in the region. Why not? It lives there, unlike certain other powers I could name.
If they helped the Iraqi Shiite majority against the foreign occupiers, I'll bet the Iraqis don't consider that terrorism. Even if some here might call it a proxy war.
Iran is supporting the Syrian regime against ISIS and the rest of those armed bands. Who are you supporting? Assad ain't a nice guy, but the democratic opposition is in tatters or living in the Istanbul Hilton, and all that's left are the armed fighters, most of Islamists. And ISIS. And Al Nusra.
Iran supports Hezbollah and Hamas. Mostly. Like many people in the rest of the world, I consider them more national liberation armies than terrorists. (Actually, I think "terrorist" and its variants ought to be retired from the discourse. They're mainly terms of propaganda and polemics.)
I'm glad the Iranians are taking on ISIS, too.
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