Rebuking Iran

The Iranian government seems determined to fan the flames of protest over the suspect presidential election results.

And on Friday, the Washington Post reported, an influential Iranian cleric gave bad advice in a sermon, telling worshippers that protest leaders should be punished "ruthlessly and savagely."

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said that protesters should be convicted for warring against God, a crime that could draw a death sentence under Shiite Islamic law.

Thankfully, President Barack Obama is standing tall in condemning the violence against demonstrators, which he termed "outrageous," and rebuking Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for seeking his apology for critical comments.

The American president suggested that the Iranian leader should apologize to Iranian victims and their families for the violent reactions from security forces.

The Tehran government seems bent on crushing dissent. Iran's judiciary is planning to establish a special court to punish "rioters" arrested during the protests. The government says there are more than 450 detained, but human rights groups allege the number is higher.

The Guardian Council, which oversees Iran's elections, said it has found no fraud or "major irregularities" in the voting. But it has announced the formation of a "special committee" to review the process, inviting challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi and another opposition candidate to appoint representatives to participate.

President Obama said that the Iranian people would judge their government's actions. "But if the Iranian government desires the respect of the international community, then it must respect the rights and heed the will of its people," he declared.

Speaking of Mr. Mousavi, the American president said that he seems "to have captured the imagination or the spirit" of those in Iran who were "interested in opening up."

Replying to Mr. Ahmadinejad's demand for an apology for criticizing the Tehran government's crackdown, President Obama suggested that he "think carefully" about his "obligations to his own people," especially the "families of those who have been beaten, shot or detained."

The American president has found his stride on the Iranian situation.