WASHINGTON, Nov 28: The US State Department on Wednesday criticized Iranian authorities for detaining five student leaders for leading demonstrations against the conservatives.

“Iranian officials are fully aware of these calls for reform, that these are genuine calls for reform, and they come directly from the hearts of their own citizens, the people of Iran,” State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker said.

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects an individual’s right to freedom of expression. But when Iranian citizens try to exercise this right and appeal to their government for reform, they are met with violence, with arrests and with death sentences.”

The remarks mark the most forceful US condemnation of the authorities in Tehran since demonstrations began earlier this month with the sentencing of history professor Hashem Agajari to death and flogging for statements against the conservatives.