"We have always said that we encourage Iraq to have good relations with all of its neighbors, including Iran," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters when asked about Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari's visit to neighboring Iran.
"And we have encouraged likewise Iraq's neighbors to play a positive role in Iraq's development as it moves toward a more peaceful, prosperous, stable and democratic future," he said.
"We have at times commented in the past on the fact that Iran could play a more helpful role in Iraq's development," McCormack added.
Jaafari's trip is the first visit by an Iraqi head of government to the rival neighbor since the fall of Saddam Hussein over two years ago.
McCormack said Washington has not "had a chance" to talk to Jaafari about his trip to Iran.
"But, again, we have in the past and continue to urge Iraq's neighbors to play a positive, open and transparent role in Iraq's development," he said.
He noted that "there were some concerns in the past about individuals transiting the Iraq-Iran border."
"But again, our greater concerns have been with the role Syria has played in that regard," the spokesman said."
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