Iran denies demanding direct talks with US

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, July 28, IRNA -- Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry Abbas Araqchi stressed Sunday 'Iran has made no demand for holding direct talks with the US'.

He made the remarks while commenting on reports of a US newspaper that quoted Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki as saying that Tehran was interested in holding direct talks with Washington.

'We deny reports attributed to Iraqi prime minister regarding Iran's willingness to hold direct talks with the US,' Araqchi told IRNA.

On July 26, the US daily New York Times claimed that the Iraqi prime minister had told US officials, on behalf of Iran, that Tehran favored direct talks with the US on its nuclear activities.

Iran has made 'no demand for direct talks with the US and what was quoted by certain US media was only false propaganda aimed at disturbing present atmosphere in the country prior to swearing-in ceremony of its president-elect.'

Rohani's inauguration ceremony will be held on August 4.

Iran's Ambassador to Iraq Hassan Danaeefard had previously rejected the report released by the US newspaper.

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