Iran says it is ready, under certain circumstances, to help the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki

Iran Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki made the comment Saturday in Manama, Bahrain at a conference of the International Institute of Strategic Studies.

Mottaki said Tehran would be willing to help with any troop withdrawal if Washington decides on such action, and changes its attitude.

He did not say what help Iran would offer.

Opening a dialog with Iran and its regional ally Syria was one of the key recommendations of a bipartisan panel of former Washington policy makers reviewing U.S. policy in Iraq.

President Bush said Thursday Iran and Syria must stop helping extremists and commit to help Iraq's fledgling government before any talks.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.