Obama to Iran: The world is watching
Barack Obama says he is "deeply troubled" by post-election violence in Iran
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Tuesday, 16, Jun 2009 10:07
Barack Obama has said he feels inspired by the peaceful demonstrations against the Iranian presidential election results, telling marchers "the world is watching".
In his first comments since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected with a massive, unexpected 62.63 per cent share of the vote, President Obama said he was "deeply troubled" by post-election violence in the country.
The United States president has been reluctant to respond to the Iranian elections to avoid appearing to be interfering in the democratic process, knowing full well that Washington is used as a "political football" in Iran.
But speaking to journalists at the White House he said: "I think it would be wrong for me to be silent about what we've seen on the television over the last few days."
Mr Obama said that supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, who had been expected to claim victory in the polls after a late surge during his campaign, felt "betrayed" by the official results that gave the former prime minister just 33.75 per cent.
"And what I would say to those people who put so much hope and energy and optimism into the political process, I would say to them that the world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was. And they should know that the world is watching.
"And particularly to the youth of Iran, I want them to know that we in the United States do not want to make any decisions for the Iranians, but we do believe that the Iranian people and their voices should be heard and respected."
President Obama added that he remained committed to "tough, hard-headed diplomacy" with Iran whatever the outcome of the inquiry into the country's presidential polls.