Iran's Yemen Power Grab Leading to Regional War?

U.S. and Middle East officials are warning that Iranian involvement in Yemen could lead to a greater regional war in the Middle East.

Steps are being taken to stop the Iranian advance, but are they too little, too late?

The United States has stepped to the sidelines, leaving it up countries like Turkey and Saudi Arabia to try to block Iran's bids for power throughout the region.

On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran to sign some economic cooperation agreements. But they also talked about bringing peace to Yemen.

"We both believe that we have to witness the end of war and bloodshed in Yemen as soon as possible," Rouhani said. "A full ceasefire must happen in Yemen, and other countries should stop their attacks on Yemen."

While talking peace with Turkey, Iran continues to aggressively back fellow Shiites in Yemen -- rebels known as the Houthis -- in their struggle to seize control of the country.

Saudi Arabia has responded by launching military airstrikes against rebel positions. Saudi bombing raids on Tuesday reportedly hit a school. Injured civilians were treated at a hospital in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a.

Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi ambassador to Washington, claims Iranian Revolutionary Guards are now on the ground in Yemen directing Houthi rebel efforts.

Turkey's Erdogan said he didn't want to point fingers.

"So far 300,000 people have died in Yemen, all of whom are Muslims. We do not know who is killing who, and I do not want to comment on sectarian issues. What is important for me is Islam and Muslims," he said.

While in Tehran, Erdogan wanted to play the role of peacemaker, and he sounded unwilling to take sides, but Turkey has actually done exactly that. Erdogan has agressively backed Sunni rebels -- even ISIS fighters -- in their battle against the Assad regime in Syria.

Iran is backing President Bashar al-Assad and has also spread its influence to Kirkuk, Iraq, where Iranian Revolutionary Guards joined Iraqi government efforts to combat ISIS.

The joint force defeated Islamic State fighters there and regained control of the town.

More Islamic State atrocities were discovered Tuesday when Iraqi officials found a mass grave near Kirkuk. It's believed to contain the bodies of more than 1,700 people.

And Christians are still suffering at the hands of the Iranian regime. As many as 90, including American Pastor Saeed Abedini, are imprisoned there for sharing their faith.

As Iran perhaps moves to build a Persian empire in the Middle East, the White House now says it will act to defend Saudi Arabia and America's Gulf State allies if they are attacked by Iran or its proxies.