The White House strongly condemned on Thursday Iran's execution of two men accused of involvement in an armed anti-government group.
White Housedeputy press secretary Bill Burton said that the executions are a low pointin the Islamic Republic's unjust and ruthless crackdown on peacefuldissent. He said killing political prisoners for exercising theirrights will further isolate Iran, not bring the country the respect andlegitimacy it seeks.
The executions mark an escalation in Iran'scrackdown on opposition to the government following last year'sdisputed presidential election. Though the two men hanged Thursday werearrested before the election, they were tried alongside oppositionleaders and activists during the protests that followed.