World Digest

Iran pledges a ‘crushing’ response to critiques

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed yesterday to make the U.S. regret its criticism of Iran’s postelection crackdown and said the “mask has been removed” from the Obama administration’s efforts to improve relations.

Ahmadinejad all but dared Obama to keep calling for an end to repression of demonstrators who claim the hardline leader stole re-election through fraud.

“You should know that if you continue, the response of the Iranian nation will be strong,” Ahmadinejad said in a speech to members of Iran’s...