The Associated Press is reporting that Iran will snub the U.S. and decline to invite representatives from Washington to the August 4 inauguration of President-elect Hassan Rouhani:

Spokesman Abbas Araghchi told a press conference Tuesday that leaders from all other countries, including Britain, have been invited to the swearing-in of Hasan Rouhani.

Araghchi had said on Sunday that all world leaders have been invited to the event, but his remarks Tuesday clarified that U.S. leaders are not in the welcome list.

Two days earlier, the outlet reported that “all the world’s leaders” including “American and European leaders” would be invited to the event as a sign of good will. The AP emphasized at the time that Rouhani had pledged to pursue “greater openness” toward the West.

Meanwhile Iranian media reported on a pro-Rouhani rally held by Iranian conservatives:

Coalition of conservatives in Iran held a big rally on July 23 in supporting of the president-elect Hassan Rouhani, KhabarFarsi website reported.

Many current parliament members and conservative politicians participated in the rally, according to the report.

Several parliamentary members held talks on the sidelines of the rally, and expressed views that all conservatives should support Rouhani to make the new government strong, and solve all existing problems.

The rally comes after weeks of declarations and explanations by Iranian officials to the effect that the president-elect — a clerical revolutionary and regime insider — would seek to reinforce the regime’s ideology.

[Photo: NewsMedia24 / Youtube]