US Secretary of State
John Kerry has said he is "encouraged" by new Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi's
plans for political and military reform.
The two men met as Mr Kerry started a Middle East tour to build support for action against Islamic State (IS). Continue...Mr Abadi formed a unity government less than 48 hours ago to meet US calls for inclusivity and fight the lightning advance by IS rebels in northern Iraq.
Meanwhile at least nine people died in a series of car bombs in east Baghdad.
The explosions happened minutes apart in the Shia neighbourhood of New Baghdad. At least 25 others were injured.
US President Barack Obama is due to outline his plans to combat IS on Wednesday evening.
He said on Tuesday that he had authority to widen military action against IS without the approval of Congress, but added he would still ask politicians to endorse the arming of Syrian opposition forces.
IS militants have taken over large parts of Syria and Iraq in recent months and have declared a "caliphate".
The US has already conducted dozens of air strikes on IS targets in the past month, in an effort to protect ethnic and religious minorities threatened by IS.
IS militants described the beheadings of two US journalists as a retaliation against the strikes.
Saudis 'main target'
Mr Kerry made an unannounced visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, at the start of a tour of Arab capitals aimed at boosting military, political and financial support for the fight against IS.
After meeting Mr Abadi, the US Secretary of State said he was encouraged by the prime minister's "commitment to broad reforms that are necessary in Iraq to bring every segment of Iraqi society to the table".
Mr Abadi said that, with IS crossing from Syria into Iraq, the international community had a responsibility to protect Iraq and the whole region.
"There is a role for the international community, for the United Nations ... and for the United States to act immediately to stop this threat," he said.
Iraqi MPs approved members of Mr Abadi's new cabinet on Monday, paving the way for the creation of a new government.
The US had insisted on the formation of an administration which did more to address the grievances of the Sunni and Kurdish minorities to allow the creation of a united front against IS.
The previous mostly Shia government of Nouri Maliki was considered to be too narrowly sectarian.
Powerful militant Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr appeared to criticise Mr Abadi for meeting Mr Kerry.
"We wish for Iraq to co-operate with the neighbouring countries and its allies, but not with the occupiers," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency, referring to the recent US military presence in the country.
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