WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki voiced cautious optimism regarding the situation in Iraq Wednesday , noting greater stability and decreased violence as U.S. troops continue to cede control to their Iraqi counterparts . President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki talk Wednesday at the White House . `` I have no doubt that there will be some tough days ahead , '' Obama said during a joint appearance of the leaders at the White House . `` There are still those who want to foment sectarian conflict . ... But make no mistake , those efforts will fail , '' he added . The president said he is committed to moving forward with a pledge to remove all American combat brigades from Iraq by the end of August 2010 , as well as all U.S. troops by the end of 2011 . Al-Maliki promised the Iraqi government would step up its efforts to prevent a return of widespread sectarian violence . `` Those who thought that the Iraqi forces [ would ] be incapable of imposing peace and security [ have been ] proved to be wrong , '' he said . Watch al-Maliki speak about `` strategic friendship '' with U.S. » . In addition to meeting with Obama , al-Maliki is scheduled to sit down with Vice President Joe Biden . He will also meet with the secretaries of State , Defense and Treasury , and with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi . Some foreign policy experts have expressed concern that as the United States pivots from Iraq to Afghanistan , Iraq and its problems will be ignored . Responding to that criticism , one senior administration official said this week , `` Our goal is , in fact as we formalize the relationship , to concentrate on other areas , '' but he suggested that Iraq would remain a U.S. priority . Hours before the two leaders met , at least five Iranian pilgrims were killed and dozens more wounded earlier Wednesday in an attack northeast of Baghdad . The violence came a day after a spate of bombings left at least 22 Iraqis dead and about 150 wounded . CNN 's Jomana Karadsheh and Dan Lothian contributed to this report .
President Obama restates goal of removing all U.S. forces from Iraq in 2011 . The White House says the withdrawal will be completed by June 2011. Capable Iraqi forces have proven naysayers wrong . At least five Iranian pilgrims die in attack northeast of Baghdad .