The US military's top general believes it is too soon to hold a parade in New York City honoring troops who fought in the Iraq war while fellow soldiers are still on the battlefield in Afghanistan, his spokesman said Tuesday.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg had offered to stage a ticker-tape parade down the streets of New York City but the Pentagon recommended waiting for the right moment.

"We simply don't think a national-level parade is appropriate while we continue to have America's sons and daughters in harm's way," said Colonel Dave Lapan, spokesman for General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"While we are very appreciative of the offer to host such a parade to recognize the significant accomplishments of those who have served in Iraq, Gen. Dempsey has expressed the view that he doesn't think it is appropriate while we still have forces engaged in combat operations in Afghanistan," Lapan said an email to reporters.

The city of St. Louis, Missouri decided to go ahead with a parade honoring veterans on January 28 and some activists and commentators have called on New York to host a parade anyway.

New York does plan a parade for its football team, the Giants, who will make their way down the "Canyon of Heroes" on lower Broadway after their triumph in the Super Bowl on Sunday against the New England Patriots.

"If the Giants or Pats get a parade, shouldn't Iraq vets?" asked Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

"Getting Super Bowl-champ football players a parade in their hometowns is never an issue. But Iraq War veterans? They deserve a little praise, too," he wrote on the group's website.

Instead of a parade, US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle plan to host a special White House dinner later this month to honor Iraq veterans, two months after the last American troops returned from the country.

"While US military operations in Iraq ended on Dec 31, 2011, we still have tens of thousands of service members and civilians engaged in combat and support operations in Afghanistan," Lapan said.

He added that New York City hosted a parade to mark the end of the first Gulf war in 1991, but "there were no other large scale combat operations underway" at the time."

"The circumstances are different today," he said.