The United States said on Wednesday that Iran and Syria, as Iraq's neighbors, are moving in the wrong direction and are out of step from the rest of the Middle East.

"We do have concerns about some of Iraq's neighbors, like Iran and Syria, and we have expressed those concerns. They are moving in the wrong direction from the rest of the Middle East. They are out of step with the rest of the Middle East," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at a briefing.

"They need to become a positive influence in the Middle East region and help support the Iraqi people and the aspiration of the Iraqi people," McClellan said.

The United States has been pressing both Iran and Syria to guard their borders with Iraq to prevent insurgents from entering Iraq. Teheran and Damascus have rebutted the criticism.

Source: Xinhua