Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that he would assist the
United States to stabilize the current situation in Iraq if Washington changes
its "bullying" policy toward Iran.
"The Iranian nation is ready to help you (the United States) on condition
that you resume behaving in a just manner and avoid bullying and invading,"
Ahmadinejad said in a speech to the a group of members of the Basij, Iran's
paramilitary group which is affiliated to the Revolutionary Guard.
However, the Iranian president still oppugned the U.S. motive to invade Iraq.
"You went to Iraq to topple Saddam's regime and find weapons of mass
destruction, but we knew it clearly that you came in order to dominate the
region and its oil," he said.
"You have been trapped in a quagmire and locked in your place with nowhere to
go, it is the time for the leaders of the U.S. and U.K. to listen. You have
reached a dead end in our region as well as in the world," added the president.
"Nations of the region, headed by the Iranian nation, will be ready to show
you the path, to help you get out of the quagmire," he concluded.
However, the U.S. didn't seem to be grateful for Iran's offer. "The Iranians
have made comments similar to this in the past. There's nothing new there," said
Julie Reside, U.S. State Department spokeswoman, on Sunday.
Iran is believed by Western countries to have great influence on Iraqi Shiite
military groups. After the defeat of midterm elections, the Bush administration
was under increasing domestic pressure urging him to contact with Iran and Syria
to calm the situation in Iraq.
The U.S. has contacted Iran through some special channels this year for
possible talks on Iraq issue, but up to now no discussions have been held for
that due to the nonconfidence between the two sides.