The Inevitable Charge of "Meddling"

Gee, I wonder if President Obama should have been more forceful in his remarks regarding Iran.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents American interests in Tehran, to complain of “interventionist” statements by American officials, state-run media reported. America and Iran broke off diplomatic relations after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

President Obama said a day earlier that it would be counterproductive for the United States “to be seen as meddling.” But he has also said he was “deeply troubled by the violence” in Iran and that democratic values needed to be observed.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry officials, without being specific about which comments they were reacting to, expressed displeasure, the official IRNA news agency reported. The Canadian chargé d’affaires was also summoned.

This is why I earlier took exception with Abe Greenwald's premise: That President Obama was not forceful enough. The Iranian regime is under immense pressure right now, and anything they can cling to to deflect attention away and/or solidify their hold over the nation, they will use. Even the cautious, measured statements of President Obama.