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October 19, 2010

WASHINGTON — The United States has “long- standing” concerns about Iran’s meddling in Iraq’s affairs and urges the Islamic republic to end its support of violence in Iraq, the State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said on Monday.

When asked to comment on Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s visit to Tehran, Crowley said he will not “over-intepret” it and understands the two countries are neighbors.

But he urged Iran to be “a better neighbor” by respecting Iraqi sovereignty and ending support to “those who use violence” Iraq.

Crowley said the United States has a “lengthy list of concerns” about Iran, especially “its direct support of terrorism groups and nuclear ambitions.”

He said the United States still wants to see the formation of new Iraqi government “expeditiously” and inclusive of all winning blocs, namely the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds.

Some reports said Iran brokered a deal between Maliki and his former foe Moqtada al-Sadr, who has aligned his powerful Shiite political bloc with Maliki’s coalition.

In response to the reports, Crowley warned that any problem should be resolved for the interests of Iraq, not other countries.