Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday 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 US 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 US and UK 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 US 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, US 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 US 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 non-confidence between the two sides.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2006)