Iranian regime intimidating journalists before election, warning Iranians not to meddle

During the widespread protests that erupted in Iran after the disputed June 2009 presidential election, President Obama refused to issue a strong statement on the matter, because, as he explained, "It is not productive... to be seen as meddling - the U.S. president meddling - in Iranian elections."

The President later reaffirmed his commitment not to meddle in Iran's internal affairs, in a statement released by the White House on November 4, 2009 in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the seizing of the American Embassy in Tehran.

“We do not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs," the statement read. “We have condemned terrorist attacks against Iran. We have recognized Iran’s international right to peaceful nuclear power. We have demonstrated our willingness to take confidence-building steps along with others in the international community.”

Yep, you read that correctly........

Conversely, the President chose a different route, in 2011, when widespread protests broke out in Egypt; Obama demanded that Hosni Mubarak step down from office. However, it is important to note that the Iranian regime - unlike the Mubarak regime - is a benevolent, and friendly, regime, which explains the discrepancy on Obama's part......

Obama apparently knows when to meddle and when not to meddle.

In any case, the next Presidential election in Iran is right around the corner, and the Iranian regime is doing everything within its power to ensure that journalists covering the event adhere to Obama's policy of not meddling in the regime's internal affairs.

In the past two days, Iranian authorities arrested more than a dozen journalists, in an effort to both intimidate media critics ahead of the presidential election and avoid the widespread protests that broke out after the disputed election in 2009. Additionally, several Journalists have said they were summoned by the Iranian authorities to discuss the forthcoming election.

Earlier this month, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a statement to the Iranian people warning them not to question the fairness of the upcoming election.

Of course, Obama wasn't the only world leader who chose not to meddle in Iran's 2009 Presidential election. As I noted in 2009: Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, seemingly took his cue from Obama when he stated Hezbollah's position on Iran's Presidential election: "Hezbollah has nothing to do with Iran's internal affairs... We don't side with anyone. This is an internal Iranian issue."

Hezbollah apparently agreed with Obama's position.......

Incidentally, as I noted back in 2009, Roberto Micheletti, the former President of Honduras wasn't too happy with Obama when the latter chose to meddle in Honduras' internal affairs:

Responding to reports that US Ambassador to Honduras, Hugo Llorens, met with former Honduran dictator, Manuel Zelaya on Thursday, interim president Roberto Micheletti told a reporter: "If you are sure that has taken place, that the ambassador has met with Zelaya, it is MEDDLING."

"The ambassador is making a serious mistake if he has done that," Micheletti said. "We don't want any country interfering in Honduras' affairs."

However, as I stated earlier, the Iranian regime is a benevolent, and friendly, regime, which explains the discrepancy on Obama's part.......