US, EU castigate Iran for human rights abuses

In a joint statement, the White House and the EU also said they were worried about the potential for an additional government crackdown as Iran approaches Feb. 11, the anniversary of the founding of the Islamic Republic.

"The United States and the European Union condemn the continuing human rights violations in Iran since the June 12 election," the joint statement said, castigating "large scale detentions and mass trials and the threatened execution of protesters."

"We are particularly concerned by the potential for further violence and repression during the coming days, especially around the anniversary of the Islamic Republic's founding on 11 February. We call on the government of Iran to live up to its international human rights obligations, to end its abuses against its own people, to hold accountable those who have committed the abuses and to release those who are exercising their rights," the statement said.

President Obama and European leaders have condemned human rights abuses in Iran before, but the current call comes at an especially sensitive time, hence it is designed to serve as another warning to Iran about its nuclear ambitions.