[DoctorZIn]

This statement now forces to the European nations allied with the mullahs of Iran to either keep quite, support the president or oppose him. In any circumstance the people of Iran now know their friends are and this may help bring Europe on the side of the students as well.

[Yardstick]

With a formal statement from the Whitehouse, I would think the goings-on in Iran would be more likely to get more press attention, too.