No 4th of July for You! Invitation rescinded to Iranian Officials

Washington - The United States has rescinded invitations to Iranian officials to attend embassy festivities marking American independence, following the violent crackdown against protestors.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."