Tasnim � Iran�s lawmakers on Tuesday expressed their gratitude to President Hassan Rouhani for ruling out direct talks with the current US administration.

In a statement signed by 150 Iranian MPs and read out during an open session of the Parliament on Tuesday, the lawmakers appreciated Rouhani�s position on negotiation with the US and said, �For more than four decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran, (based on) the guidelines of Imam Khomeini (RA) and Leader of the Islamic Revolution (Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei)�, has not allowed the hegemonic system (the US) to misuse it��

They also appreciated Rouhani�s rejection of any negotiation with the US and expressed hope that he would remain steadfast on the path of Imam Khomeini and the Leader.

The remarks came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after unilaterally withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce Iran�s oil exports to �zero,� and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.

Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans and selling crude oil.