The United States and European Union issued a joint warning to Iran today, In advance of widespread anti-government protests (and counter-protests) expected in Tehran on February 11, the anniversary of the fall of the Shah's regime in 1979.

The statement, issued from the White House, says that the US and EU "condemn the continuing human rights violations in Iran since the June 12 election." It goes on to say, "We are particularly concerned by the potential for further violence and repression during the coming days" around the February 11 anniversary.

The statement, while a bit unusual, sticks to the Obama administration's script so far in dealing with the surprisingly robust Iranian opposition movement. The script:  criticize the Iranian government's human rights record; invoke international human rights laws and norms, but don't explicitly back the protesters or suggest any U.S. aid will be forthcoming.

Stay tuned for an interesting day in Iran on Thursday. Meanwhile, here's the full text of the statement.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

____________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2010

JOINT STATEMENT

 BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED STATES

CALLING ON THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT

 TO FULFIL ITS HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS

The United States and the European Union condemn the continuing human rights violations in Iran since the June 12 election. The large scale detentions and mass trials, the threatened execution of protestors, the intimidation of family members of those detained and the continuing denial to its citizens of the right to peaceful expression are contrary to human rights norms.

Our concerns are based on our commitment to universal respect for human rights. 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.