TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said Monday it had sent an official protest to the United States over what it called blatant interference in its internal affairs after Washington cheered six nights of pro-democracy protests.
Since its swift victory in neighboring Iraq (news - web sites), Washington has stepped up pressure on Iran, accusing it of seeking nuclear weapons, backing terrorism and applauding demonstrations against Islamic clerical rule which erupted last week.
"We sent an official note to the Americans through the Swiss embassy and objected to their actions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a news conference. "Their remarks are a blatant interference in Iran's internal affairs."
Switzerland has looked after U.S. interests in Iran since Washington cut ties with Tehran after Iranian students took U.S. diplomats hostage during the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Gunshots rang out overnight near Tehran University, the focus of the unrest, but witnesses said the atmosphere was much calmer than on previous nights when hard-line vigilantes wielding clubs, chains and knives had attacked the demonstrators.
The protests, marked by unprecedented insults hurled at both Iran's reformist and conservative leaders, were welcomed as a positive development Sunday by President Bush (news - web sites).
"This is the beginning of people expressing themselves toward a free Iran which I think is positive," Bush said.
"PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR"
"America is waging a psychological war against Iran," newspapers quoted Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi as saying. National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezai said Washington was testing the ground for further action against Iran.
In the last 18-months, U.S.-led forces have toppled the rulers of Iran's neighbors Iraq and Afghanistan (news - web sites). U.S. officials say they would welcome a change of government in Tehran although they stop short of embracing a policy of "regime change."
Washington will be watching as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) begins discussing a report this week which calls for further inspections of Iran's nuclear program. Iran says its atomic ambitions are limited to electricity generation.
Protesters have vented most of their anger on conservative clerics who control the key elements of power in Iran, but have also condemned moderate President Mohammad Khatami (news - web sites), accusing him of failing to deliver promised change after six years in office.
While the president has remained silent on the unrest, his younger brother, a leading reformist deputy, said it was an insult to the Iranian people to say the protests were started from abroad. A new crackdown, he said, would do no good.
"For sure a security crackdown to confront the riots is not a correct solution and I believe a crackdown would aggravate the situation," newspapers quoted Mohammad Reza Khatami as saying.
But police arrested liberal dissident Mohsen Sazegara and his son at the weekend for inciting violence and three religious nationalist dissidents on similar charges.
While the protests in Tehran appeared to be fizzling out or entering a lull, state media reported smaller demonstrations in three other cities in which one person was killed.
Police said some 60 people, including 32 policemen, were injured in Tehran and five banks, 22 cars and 34 motorbikes had been damaged in the first four nights of unrest.
But Tehran Governor's office said 80 students were injured Saturday at one university dormitory when vigilantes burst into the campus and beat students in their beds.
Police chief Brig. Gen. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said 109 "hooligans" were arrested, but no students were detained
Since its swift victory in neighboring Iraq (news - web sites), Washington has stepped up pressure on Iran, accusing it of seeking nuclear weapons, backing terrorism and applauding demonstrations against Islamic clerical rule which erupted last week.
"We sent an official note to the Americans through the Swiss embassy and objected to their actions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a news conference. "Their remarks are a blatant interference in Iran's internal affairs."
Switzerland has looked after U.S. interests in Iran since Washington cut ties with Tehran after Iranian students took U.S. diplomats hostage during the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Gunshots rang out overnight near Tehran University, the focus of the unrest, but witnesses said the atmosphere was much calmer than on previous nights when hard-line vigilantes wielding clubs, chains and knives had attacked the demonstrators.
The protests, marked by unprecedented insults hurled at both Iran's reformist and conservative leaders, were welcomed as a positive development Sunday by President Bush (news - web sites).
"This is the beginning of people expressing themselves toward a free Iran which I think is positive," Bush said.
"PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR"
"America is waging a psychological war against Iran," newspapers quoted Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi as saying. National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezai said Washington was testing the ground for further action against Iran.
In the last 18-months, U.S.-led forces have toppled the rulers of Iran's neighbors Iraq and Afghanistan (news - web sites). U.S. officials say they would welcome a change of government in Tehran although they stop short of embracing a policy of "regime change."
Washington will be watching as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) begins discussing a report this week which calls for further inspections of Iran's nuclear program. Iran says its atomic ambitions are limited to electricity generation.
Protesters have vented most of their anger on conservative clerics who control the key elements of power in Iran, but have also condemned moderate President Mohammad Khatami (news - web sites), accusing him of failing to deliver promised change after six years in office.
While the president has remained silent on the unrest, his younger brother, a leading reformist deputy, said it was an insult to the Iranian people to say the protests were started from abroad. A new crackdown, he said, would do no good.
"For sure a security crackdown to confront the riots is not a correct solution and I believe a crackdown would aggravate the situation," newspapers quoted Mohammad Reza Khatami as saying.
But police arrested liberal dissident Mohsen Sazegara and his son at the weekend for inciting violence and three religious nationalist dissidents on similar charges.
While the protests in Tehran appeared to be fizzling out or entering a lull, state media reported smaller demonstrations in three other cities in which one person was killed.
Police said some 60 people, including 32 policemen, were injured in Tehran and five banks, 22 cars and 34 motorbikes had been damaged in the first four nights of unrest.
But Tehran Governor's office said 80 students were injured Saturday at one university dormitory when vigilantes burst into the campus and beat students in their beds.
Police chief Brig. Gen. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said 109 "hooligans" were arrested, but no students were detained
