Obama condemns violence in Iran

WASHINGTON, June 23 (UPI) -- The United States and the international community were "appalled and outraged" by post-election events unfolding in Iran, President Barack Obama said Tuesday.

Obama also used a White House news conference to urge lawmakers to pass energy technology legislation and keep up its work on reforming the U.S. healthcare system.

"The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats, beatings and imprisonments (in Iran) of the last few days," he said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the landslide winner over his nearest challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi in the June 12 election. The results and claims of other irregularities during the voting process sparked daily demonstrations in Tehran and other Iranian cities. Saturday's protests turned deadly with Iranian news sources reporting 13 people killed while hospital sources put the toll at 19.

"I have made it clear that the United States respects the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and is not at all interfering in Iran's affairs," said Obama, whose comments about Iran have been criticized by conservatives for not being forceful enough. "But we must also bear witness to the courage and dignity of the Iranian people, and to a remarkable opening within Iranian society. And we deplore violence against innocent civilians anywhere that it takes place."

Regarding energy technology legislation, Obama noted the House was moving on legislation "that will transform the way we produce and use energy in America."

The bill includes a number of incentives that would spark development of new energy sources and spur energy savings, he said.

"These incentives will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy," he said, while creating millions of new jobs in America that cannot be shipped overseas.

He also noted several versions of healthcare reform legislation were moving through Congress.

Whatever measure finally makes it to his desk, it must ensure that it "brings down the crushing cost of healthcare," Obama said. "When it comes to healthcare, the status quo is unsustainable."