Larijani: No Decision yet on US Interests Section in Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Islamic Republic has not made any decision on establishing ties with the United States or allowing the US to open a diplomatic outpost in Tehran, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said here on Sunday.

Larijani made the statement in response to MP Behrouz Jafari, who had asked him to provide all the information at hand about the discussions on Iran’s relations with the US and the proposal to open a US interests section in Tehran.

Larijani said, “Media speculation is not the system’s official position. The system has not proposed a resumption of relations with the US or the opening of an interests section.”

According to Tehran Times, Larijani added, “If the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee has any information,” it has not informed the other MPs.

The Washington Post had earlier reported that the Bush administration is considering setting up a diplomatic outpost in Iran nearly 30 years after the two nations severed relations.

The US currently has no diplomatic presence in Iran and relies on the Swiss Embassy to serve as its “protecting power”.

The embassy passes messages to the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Washington’s behalf and handles the affairs of US citizens in the country.