Congressional action on Iran rights

The Senate and House are hotlining separate Iran resolutions to express support for the rights of Iranian people protesting disputed elections results in Iran, reports Foreign Policy's blog The Cable.  The language in the proposed Berman-Pence resolution in the House is good, said an observer, but he warned that the floor events surrounding the resolutions could lead to criticism of President Barack Obama for not being more forceful in his statements on the Iranian protests; could be construed as U.S. meddling; and could lead to the protesters being targeted as foreign stooges. Speaking at Friday prayer services in Tehran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei endorsed the disputed vote count that declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the landslide winner, and warned opposition leaders they would be responsible for "bloodshed and chaos" if the protests continue.

(photo: Hamed Saber / Flickr)