The US withdraws invitations to Iranian diplomats to attend US Independence Day celebrations on 4th of July, citing recent post-election events as an excuse.

"Given the events of the past many days, those invitations will no longer be extended," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters on Wednesday.

"July fourth allows us to celebrate the freedom and the liberty we enjoy -- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble peacefully. Freedom of the press," he added.

However, he did confirm earlier comments by US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly who had claimed that none of the invited diplomats had signed up to attend the events.

"Not surprisingly, based on what we see going on in Tehran, nobody's RSVP'd," said Gibbs.

Hours after the spokesman's remarks Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent out official instructions to US missions telling them to cancel the invitations that she had authorized three weeks ago.

"Unfortunately, circumstances have changed, and participation by Iranian diplomats would not be appropriate in light of the unjust actions that the president and I have condemned," she said.

"For invitations which have been extended, posts should make clear that Iranian participation is no longer appropriate in the current circumstances," she added.

The decision to take back invitations that had not received a cordial response from the Iranian side came despite Kelly's Monday announcement that the US had no intention of rescinding them.

"We have made a strategic decision to engage on a number of fronts with Iran… We tried many years of isolation, and we're pursuing a different path now." Kelly had said.

This is while Tehran accuses Washington of orchestrating the recent "illegal" protests in the country, which have led to deaths, injuries and loss of public property.

In a Tuesday news conference, US President Barack Obama rejected claims that Washington was interfering in the country's internal affairs but at the same time said that he was "appalled and outraged" by the Iranian government's response to street rallies.

Obama called on the Iranian government to govern through "consent", adding that Tehran's reaction in this situation would shape the future of its international ties. Iran and the US have not had official relations since 1980.

MJ/MMN