Obama "deeply troubled" by Iranian violence

At the White House today, President Obama said he was "deeply troubled" by the post-election violence in Iran, but pledged to continue efforts to engage Tehran diplomatically. Despite calls to publicly condemn the apparently fraudulent election outcome, the President heeded the approach advocated by leaders of the National Security Network and other Ploughshares-funded analysts, who argue that "the Obama administration – and Americans across the political spectrum -- can best support Iranian human rights by letting the Iranian people take the lead."  They caution against expressions of political support for the protesters that could suggest that the reform movement is somehow driven by the United States.  Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council agrees, saying that for now, "the administration is doing exactly the right thing.” Watch the President's statement here, and tell us what you think.

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