TEHRAN, June 25 -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned President Obama on Thursday to "avoid interfering" in Iranian affairs, and his security forces arrested 70 academics overnight after using clubs and tear gas Wednesday to break up demonstrations over the disputed June 12 elections.
"Do you want to speak with this tone? If that is your stance then what is left to talk about?" Ahmadinejad said of Obama, who during a news conference Tuesday criticized Iran's crackdown on protesters who have alleged fraud and demanded that the elections be annulled.
Accusing Obama of acting like his predecessor, George W. Bush, Ahmadinejad said: "I hope you avoid interfering in Iran's affairs and express your regret in a way that the Iranian nation is informed of it." His remarks were translated by Reuters news service.
Iran's government has declared that Ahmadinejad outpolled his nearest rival, former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, by a margin of nearly 2 to 1. On Wednesday, as an expression of disapproval, the U.S. State Department withdrew its invitation to Iranian diplomats to attend July 4 festivities at embassies around the world.
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