No Rouhani-Obama meeting planned at UN: Iran MP

A top Iranian lawmaker says President Hassan Rouhani and US president Barack Obama, have no plan to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session next week.

Chairman of Iran Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Tuesday that the US push for direct talks with Iran does not comply with its continued hostility toward the Islamic Republic.

“The Americans and Obama in particular are eager to engage in talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and are trying to seize any chance in order to achieve this objective,” he added.

The lawmaker stated that Obama’s message to the Iranian people on the occasion of the Persian New Year in March and his congratulatory message to Rouhani on his election win are two clear examples of US attempts to reestablish ties with Iran.

He further noted that the main problem between Tehran and Washington lies in the untrustworthiness of US officials.

“Hostile policies adopted by US officials towards the Islamic Republic of Iran, [including] repeated threats, US sanctions, inciting Europe to impose sanctions and contribute to the adoption of anti-Iran resolutions by the UN Security Council are only some American policies which prove that the US administration can by no means be trusted,” Boroujerdi said.

The Iranian legislator stressed that the US strong desire for direct talks with Iran will not be satisfied as long as Washington continues its animosity towards Tehran, advising US politicians to change their approach towards the Islamic Republic.

British newspaper The Guardian reported on Sunday that an exchange of letters between Obama and Rouhani “has set the stage for a possible meeting.”

President Obama in an interview with ABC on Sunday said he had contacted his Iranian counterpart via letters.