United States President Barack Obama expressed support Tuesday for protests in Iran, and called for Middle East leaders to listen to protesters' messages.
“The world is changing,” he said. “You have a young, vibrant generation within the Middle East that is looking for greater opportunity.”
“You've got to get out ahead of change, you can't be behind the curve,” he warned. “Governments in the region are starting to understand this.”
Obama criticized Iranian leaders for brutally suppressing demonstrations in their own country while praising protesters in Egypt.
While Obama called for more freedom in Iran, members of Iran's parliament called to kill two opposition leaders thought to be involved in recent demonstrations against the regime. “Moussavi, Karrubi... execute them,” they called, referring to former presidential candidates Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi.
Iran's deputy police chief termed the demonstrations “illegal gatherings... directed from America, England and Israel.
Activists held a demonstration Monday in Azadi Square, which had been the site of anti-government demonstrations in 2009, following the contested presidential elections.
Police dispersed the crowd using batons and tear gas. 1,500 people were arrested, according to Iranian human rights groups. One person was killed, and several others were wounded.