Iran would consider U.S. invitation to attend a meeting on Afghanistan as it considered stability in the neighboring country a priority, a government spokesman said on Saturday in Tehran.

"If they (Western countries) need us, they should offer (an invitation). We will review it based on a stance that we will help Afghanistan," Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham told a press conference.

"Stability in Afghanistan is one of Iran's priorities," he added.

His remarks came after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that Iran could be invited to attend a U.S.-proposed international conference on Afghanistan.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2009)