Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said U.S. troops are responsible for at least half the violence tearing apart Iraq and their departure would pay security dividends for the entire region.
"If the United States changes its attitude the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to help with the withdrawal from Iraq," Mottaki told the International Institute of Strategic Studies conference.
MANAMA, Bahrain -- Iran's foreign minister delivered a blunt challenge to the U.S. yesterday, saying Tehran is willing to help U.S. troops withdraw from Iraq but only if Washington makes some tough policy changes.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said U.S. troops are responsible for at least half the violence tearing apart Iraq and their departure would pay security dividends for the entire region.
"If the United States changes its attitude the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to help with the withdrawal from Iraq," Mottaki told the International Institute of Strategic Studies conference.
He echoed calls made last week by Iran's top national security official, Ali Larijani, for Gulf Arab countries to eject U.S. bases and establish a regional security pact with Iran. Mottaki went further and offered deeper co-operation with the six Gulf Arab states on energy, tourism, business and counter-narcotics.
