Obama concerned over Iran

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday that he was “deeply troubled” by violence in Iran, but warned he did not want the United States to become a “political football” in the post-election crisis.

In his first public comments since the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mr. Obama called on Iranian leaders to respect free speech and democracy after the reported death of an opposition protestor in Iran.

He also vowed that despite the violence and doubts over the probity of the polls, he would stick by his pledge to pursue “tough, hard headed” diplomacy with “no illusions” with Iran on several issues including its nuclear programme.

Walking a fine political line, Mr. Obama hinted at the limits of U.S. influence in the crisis, saying he wanted to be “very clear” that “it is up to Iranians to make a decision about who Iran’s leaders will be”.

“We respect Iranian sovereignty and want to avoid the United States being the issue inside of Iran” , said Mr. Obama, adding that in the past, America had become a “political football” in the domestic politics of its arch-foe.

But Mr. Obama also added that he was “deeply troubled” by the violence he had been seeing in television news broadcasts from Tehran.

“I think that the democratic process, free speech, the ability for folks to peacefully dissent, all those are universal values and need to be respected”, Mr. Obama told reporters after meeting Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. But Mr. Obama said he was committed to his plan to offer a diplomatic opening to Iran, and to discuss it’s nuclear programme.

Defending South Korea

Mr. Obama also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea after talks with visiting President Lee Myung-Bak, at a time of escalating threats from North Korea. “We have reaffirmed the endurance of our alliance and America’s commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea”, said Mr. Obama in an a press appearance with Mr. Lee in the White House Rose Garden.