The story

The contested election results in Iran have brought thousands onto the streets of Tehran in protest. So why have the voices of two of Iran's most prominent critics -- the United States and its leading ally the UK -- so far been comparatively muted in their support of the protesters and in their criticisms of the regime?

And why is Britain being singled out as a target for the ire of the Iranian authorities?

U.S. President Barack Obama has said that he has "deep concerns" about the election but that he does not want to be seen meddling in Iran's affairs or picking sides between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his rival Mir Hossein Moussavi.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that questions about the validity of the polls "need to be answered" and that the way Iran responds to "legitimate protests" will affect its relationships with the rest of the world. But he too has kept his hand off the diplomatic throttle.

There has been widespread criticism of the Tehran regime. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for the election votes to be recounted and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has branded the elections a fraud, insisting that "when we have to condemn, we condemn." Read full article »

All About Ayatollah Ali KhameneiMahmoud AhmadinejadIranFacebook Inc.

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