Why, exactly, will Iran play a role? On what basis does Rice think that Iran could ever be a “good neighbor”? To what extent will the U.S. tolerate Iranian activity in Iraq in exchange for assurances of “neighborliness”?
From AP, :
The US recognizes that Iran has a role to play in Iraq, but wants Teheran to help stabilize the country, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in an interview aired Tuesday on Arab television.
Rice’s comments came ahead of planned talks between the United States and Iran over the situation in Iraq.
“Iran will clearly play a role,” Rice told the Al-Arabiya satellite channel. “The question is: Will it be a positive role? Will it be a role that is befitting a good neighbor?”
“If Iran chooses to play a stabilizing role, chooses to play a transparent role, chooses to play a neighborly role, that would be a very good thing for Iraq,” Rice said.