WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama challenged Iran’s government on Saturday to halt a “violent and unjust” crackdown on dissenters, using his bluntest language yet to condemn Tehran’s post- election response.
Obama has sought a measured reaction to avoid being drawn in as a meddler in Iranian affairs. Yet his comments have grown more pointed as the clashes intensified, and his latest remarks took direct aim at Iranian leaders.
“We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people,” Obama said in a statement. “The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.”
Obama has searched for the right tone in light of political pressures. Congress pressed him to condemn the response. Iran’s leadership was poised to blame the U.S. for interference and draw Obama in more directly.
Obama met with advisers at the White House as developments in Iran grew more ominous.
“Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away,” he said, recalling a theme from his speech in Cairo, Egypt, this month.
“The Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government,” Obama said.
The Associated Press
