Clinton praises Iranian protesters; blasts Ahmadinejad regime

Hilary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State has extended her support for Iranian opposition members who protested the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Teheran in solidarity with popular unrest in Egypt and Tunisia.

Clinton said Iranians deserve to have the same rights that they saw being played out in Egypt and that Iran’s repressive regime needs to open up its political system.

Clinton told the media that the US administration very clearly and directly is one side of the protesters in Iran.

What we see happening in Iran today is a testament to the courage of the Iranian people, and an indictment of the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime - a regime which over the last three weeks has constantly hailed what went on in Egypt, she said.

She also made an explicit connection between Iran and the revolt in Egypt.

At least one person was killed during Monday’s clashes, while dozens have been arrested.

Reportedly, protests were also held in other cities, including Isfahan, Mashhad and Shiraz. Also, key opposition leaders have also been placed under house arrest.

We are against violence and we would call to account the Iranian government that is once again using its security forces and resorting to violence to prevent the free expression of ideas from their own people, Clinton added. We think that there needs to be a commitment to open up the political system in Iran, to hear the voices of the opposition and civil society.”