Iranian Officials Rule Out Talks With US Amid Economic Troubles

20 July 2010

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani speaks during a press conference held at the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, 01 Jun 2010

Although top Iranian leaders say they will not negotiate with the United States, that did not prevent foreign visits with Western officials by Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Muttaqi. Larijani met with Western parliamentary leaders in Geneva, while Muttaqi addressed an international conference on Afghanistan in Kabul.

In Tehran, Iran's Deputy Parliament Speaker said the United States "humiliated and opposed the Islamic Republic," precluding any "reason for negotiation."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast presented a similar line of reasoning at his weekly press briefing. Mehmanparast says Washington's pursuit of economic sanctions against Iran, in addition to what he claims is U.S. maltreatment of Iranians, mean there is no real reason to negotiate.

As Iranian media continued to focus on international issues, the economic crisis inside the country appeared to worsen, according to many analysts.

Iranian television showed officials inaugurating new electricity plants and saying more gasoline is available, contrary to scattered reports from inside the country that gas stations are running low on fuel and that electricity brownouts are causing major disruptions.