Tehran: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his government will "severely punish bullying powers", referring to some Western nations for allegedly stoking post-election unrest in the country.
Tehran will take stern action against the bullying powers (Western states), responsible for fanning flames of dissent, state-run IRNA news agency reported on Sunday citing the Iranian leader.
Iranian officials blamed the Western countries of meddling in Iran's post-election violence.
Tehran says the West irresponsibly interfered in Iran's internal affairs in an attempt to carry out a "velvet coup" against the country's religious system.
A day before Ahmadinejad's swearing-in, the US, Britain and Germany said they would not congratulate the Iranian President on the occasion.
On Wednesday, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for a second term as Iran's president amid widespread unrest over irregularities in the June 12 presidential election which he won by a large margin.
Ahmadinejad is expected to introduce his new cabinet to the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) in the next few days.
IANS
First Published: Monday, August 10, 2009, 10:31