U.S. has no plan to rescind invitations to Iranian diplomatic for National Day celebrations

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WASHINGTON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The Obama administration said Monday that it has no plan to rescind invitations to Iranian diplomats to attend celebrations to mark America's Independence Day on or around July 4.

"There's no thought to rescind the invitations to Iranian diplomats," said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly, when asked whether the administration will cancel the invitations in order to protest Iranian government's "violent and unjust actions" against its people.

"We have made a strategic decision to engage on a number of fronts with Iran. And we tried many years of isolation, and we're pursuing a different path now," said the spokesman.

As one of a new overture to Iran, a country that Washington has shun since 1980, the Obama administration has reportedly permitted all U.S. embassies and consulates to invite Iran's diplomats to attend the Independent Day celebrations.

The possible interaction between the two countries, however, has been facing uncertainties due to the situation in Iran.

Reports here said at least some 10 people have been killed during a clashes between Iran riot police and thousands of protesters who were trying to stage protests against the results from the June 12 presidential election.

The worst political crisis in 30 years in Iran was triggered by the election, in which the authorities said the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won with 62.63 percent of the total ballots, while his main rival Mir-Hossein Mousavi got 33.75 percent.

Mousavi claimed there were clear "violations" in the election and appealed for a cancellation of the result. His supporters have staged massive demonstrations in capital Tehran and other cities over the past days.

"I really think that the focus has to be on what's going on inside Iran," said Kelly, adding "this is not about our bilateral relationship right now. This is about Iranians and the Iranians having their rights to express themselves be respected, their political (right) will be respected."

"The president made a very strong statement, I thought, standing very firmly behind those who want to have their views respected; want to be able to peaceably assemble; want to have access to the media," said the spokesman.

President Barack Obama on Saturday urged the Iranian government to "stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people," saying the rights to assembly and free speech must be respected.

"The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights," said the president, adding "the Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government."

"If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion," he added.