By Sadeq Saba BBC regional analyst

US-based satellite TV stations have been encouraging the protests

The foreign ministry described the White House statement as "flagrant interference" in Iran's internal affairs.

And the pro-reform speaker of the Iranian parliament said Iran was united in its rejection of American pressure.

Earlier the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, had blamed Washington for being behind anti-government protests in the capital, Tehran.

There is no doubt that the United States has been seeking to encourage anti-government protests in Iran - a country included in President George W Bush's "axis of evil".

'Genuine discontent'

But this does not mean that Washington is in fact behind the current demonstrations as maintained by the Iranian leaders.

Most analysts believe that there is a genuine widespread discontent in Iran and the protests have deep internal roots.

Conservatives have labelled protesters US lackeys

There is a big debate going on among Iranian opposition groups about what the US should do to help the Iranian people to liberate themselves.

Some say that any direct support for anti-government activities in Iran could play into the hands of the hardliners in the regime and therefore be counter-productive.

The conservative clerics have already accused the protestors of being the mercenaries of the foreign enemy and the remnants of the previous regime of the Shah - overthrown about a quarter of a century ago.

'Morale boost'

Other Iranian opposition circles, however, welcome any American pressure on the Islamic government.

They say an active US policy in support of pro-democracy in Iran could become a big morale boost for the opposition and create panic among the ruling clergy.

Some Iranians go even further and call for direct US intervention in Iran as it did in Afghanistan and Iraq - both of them Iran's neighbours.