W.H. Calls Ahmadinejad Iran's "Elected Leader"

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Iran

(AP Photo/ISNA)

At his press briefing Tuesday afternoon, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "the elected leader" of Iran.

After a reporter asked if the Obama administration recognizes Ahmadinejad as the "legitimate president of Iran," Gibbs responded with, "he's the elected leader."

Gibbs also said the fact that no U.S. representative is attending Ahmadinejad's swearing-in ceremony tomorrow does not mean America is refusing to recognize his legitimacy.

"I think we have said throughout this that this was a decision and a debate that was ongoing in Iran by Iranians, that they were going to choose their leadership," Gibbs said. "The president has discussed our goals for reaching out in order to ensure that they don't develop a nuclear weapons program. Those continue to [be] our goals."

The Iranian government has repeatedly faced off with protesters, dozens of whom were killed or wounded, since Ahmadinejad's reelection in an election opponents say was stolen.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by endurorob August 5, 2009 8:54 AM EDT: abbe91 August 5, 2009 7:36 AM EDT
Ahmadinejad is "the elected leader" of Iran at least as much as GW Bush was ours.

You lefties are like addicts. You just can't help bringing Bush into every conversation. Let it go already.; Reply to this comment

by endurorob August 5, 2009 7:21 AM EDT

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "the elected leader" of Iran.

elected? Hardly. The entire world knows the election results are false. Ahmadinejad is the appointed figurehead of Iran and nothing more. The real leaders are the religous fanatics.

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by abbe91 August 5, 2009 7:36 AM EDT: Ahmadinejad is "the elected leader" of Iran at least as much as GW Bush was ours.


by abbe91 August 5, 2009 7:37 AM EDT: The only difference is ... at least Ahmadinejad has virtually no power.

by the_majesty August 4, 2009 7:03 PM EDT

The people of Iran stand against Ahmadinejad, who cheated to win the election. Now Obama stand against them. The WH calling Ahmadinejad 'Elected Leader" is a statement that should not have been made.

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by veritas_1212 August 5, 2009 1:22 AM EDT: It is far more important to the US that we succeed in blocking the Iranian access to nuclear weapons than that we have a hand in who is their leader. We have a better chance of achieving our REAL goal by not getting involved in the choosing of the Iranian President. This is called "keeping your eye on the ball". The Obama administration is handling it exactly right.


by hakori August 5, 2009 7:37 AM EDT: SouthwestisBest, wishful thinking on your part! Come 2012 Obama gets his second term. Don't you have any town hall meetings to attend so you can shout down any civil discourse about problemns that matter to Americans? Also, I was just wondering if you and Rowdy are paid to spread your ignorance and hate?