TEHERAN - Iran said on Monday the United States was failing in Afghanistan and that a new approach was needed, four days after Washington said it would invite Tehran to an international conference to discuss its neighbour, according to the Khaleej Times. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki did not say whether Iran would accept the US invitation to this month's planned meeting on Afghanistan, a swift overture toward Tehran by the new administration of US President Barack Obama. Iran's government spokesman said on Saturday the Islamic Republic would consider such an invitation and that it was ready to help Afghanistan as it battles a growing Taliban insurgency. Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic ties for three decades and are now embroiled in a dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme, which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs. Iran says it is for peaceful power purposes. But the two foes share an interest in ensuring a stable Afghanistan, analysts say. Mottaki said the United States came to Afghanistan saying it would root out extremism, restore security and fight drugs. "All indicators in regard to these three areas show that the conditions have deteriorated sharply," he told state television. Washington had indicated it needed a new direction but Tehran did not know how US policies in Afghanistan would change, he said. Obama, in a major shift in US policy, has said the United States wants to engage Iran. The Afghanistan invitation would be the start of diplomatic approach to the Islamic Republic. While Iran and the United States sat at the same table to discuss Afghanistan after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on the US, the Bush administration made sure the new pro-Western Afghan government kept Tehran at arm's length. Analysts have predicted the Obama team was likely to begin a dialogue with Iran on issues such as Afghanistan. Afghanistan's foreign minister made clear he wanted Iran to attend the conference, possibly on March 31, which would also bring in neighbours including Pakistan as well as other players. Meanwhile, Afghanistan called on Monday on neighbouring Iran to help the United States and other world powers in stabilising the violence-wracked nation. "We definitely want the support and cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta told AFP on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers from the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO). "We sincerely and honestly appreciate the participation of Iran in any international conference that helps stability in Afghanistan," he said referring to a meeting to be held on March 31 on the situation in Afghanistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said at the ECO meeting that the "policy of occupation and interference by powers from outside the region has borne no results" in Iraq and Afghanistan. ECO was founded in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey to address regional economic issues. Its members also include Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and other regional countries.