WASHINGTON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged Iran, which has been in tense relations with Washington for its alleged nuclear weapon ambition and supporting terrorism, to play stabilizing role in Iraq.

    "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 in an interview with an Arab television aired on Tuesday.

    Rice made the remarks ahead of planned talks between the United States and Iran over the situation in Iraq.

    U.S. ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad has been authorized to hold discussions with Iran. It will be the first and most public bilateral exchanges by the countries since soon after the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

    The White House said in mid-March that it is prepared to talk with Iran about Iraq, but the discussion will be limited to Iraqi issue only and not include Tehran's suspected nuclear weapons program and other disputed subjects.

    However, no date for such talks has been set. Enditem