U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak exchange positions after realizing they were at the wrong podiums as they attend a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, June 16, 2009, in Washington. The leaders discussed the issue of North Korea's nuclear program, trade issues and the world economy. ( UPI Photo/Mike Theiler) | License Photo

President Barack Obama (R) listens to remarks by South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak as they attend a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, June 16, 2009, in Washington. The leaders discussed the issue of North Korea's nuclear program, trade issues and the world economy. ( UPI Photo/Mike Theiler) | License Photo

WASHINGTON, June 16 (UPI) -- The reaction by Iran's supreme leader indicates he recognizes Iranians are troubled about the presidential election, U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday.

Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday ordered an investigation into fraud allegations surrounding the country's election. The Guardian Council, which oversees elections, said it would recount ballots disputed by moderate candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who finished second in Friday's balloting to incumbent hardliner President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.


"I have said before that I have deep concerns about the election. And I think that the world has deep concerns about the election," Obama said during a media availability with visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. "You've seen in Iran some initial reaction from the supreme leader that indicates he understands the Iranian people have deep concerns about the election."

Given the history of U.S.-Iran relations, "it's not productive ... to be seen as meddling ... in Iranian elections," he said.

Obama repeated concern he voiced Tuesday about "violence directed at peaceful protesters. ... That is not how governments should interact with their people." Opposition protests and rallies have turned fatal, with reports of seven deaths.

How the events play out over next few days and weeks "is something ultimately for the Iranian people to decide," Obama said, "but I stand strongly with the universal principle that people's voices should be heard and not suppressed."