The U.S. government on Monday urged Iraq to respect a UN resolution that bans arms export from Iran and stop Iran's possible arms shipments to Syria via its airspace.

According to a statement issued by the State Department, American ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey had raised the issue with senior Iraqi leaders over the weekend, and they expressed a commitment to "ensuring that Iraqi territory and airspace would not be used as a transit point for weapons to Syria."

The State Department urged the Iraqis to "take whatever measures they can" to ensure the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1747 which bans arms export from Iran.

"We will continue to coordinate on this issue with the Government of Iraq on effective ways of enforcing the UNSC resolutions in place," said the State Department.

Last Friday, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland had voiced concerns over the issue, following reports that the United States has requested the Iraqi government to stop allowing Iran to use its airspace or inspect the Iranian planes overflying its territories for suspicion that Tehran is flying weapons into Syria.