Middle East News

Jun 24, 2009, 21:52 GMT

US rescinds Independence Day invitations for Iranian officials

Washington - The United States has rescinded invitations to Iranian officials to attend embassy festivities marking American independence, following the violent crackdown against protestors. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that no Iranian officials had accepted the invitations announced earlier this month to attend Independence Day celebrations on July 4, as part of the plan to engage Tehran. 'July 4th allows us to celebrate the freedom and the liberty we enjoy: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble peacefully, freedom of the press,' Gibbs said. 'So I don't think it's surprising that (no Iranian officials) signed up to come. Given the events of the past many days, those invitations will no longer be extended.' President Barack Obama has pledged to pursue warmer relations with Iran but has strongly condemned the violence against tens of thousands of protestors who have taken to the streets since the June 12 presidential election. Supporters of reformist Mir-Hossein Moussavi are protesting their candidate's defeat by hardline incumbent Mahmoud Ajmadinejad. They accuse the government of rigging the result. The State Department said on June 2 that embassies abroad were authorized to invite Iranian officials for the annual festivities. Iranian officials have not been invited to attend these events since formal diplomatic relations were severed three decades ago. The United States declared independence from Britain on July 4, 1776.

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