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Iranian Prez Draws Fire

Courting confrontation both at home and abroad, Iran`s hard-line president is inserting like-minded ideologues into key positions. He`s holding strong to Iran`s nuclear ambitions. And he`s inviting ire in the West with more anti-Israel rhetoric. But President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is drawing criticism from abroad - and from some conservatives in Iran - for crossing such so-called red lines.

Ahmadinejad`s supporters seem unfazed by the latest criticism. "Previous governments and parliaments closed their eyes and did not accept criticism," says Hamidreza Taraghi, of the right-wing Islamic Coalition Society. "Self-criticism is necessary, because it means a certain level of growth in managing the country - that will benefit everyone, and make everyone accountable."

Ahmadinejad often points out that he was an underdog who won the June presidential vote with little formal backing from Iran`s power centers, promising to redistribute Iran`s oil wealth to the poor, and to root out widespread corruption. He says he`s not beholden to any faction. While uncompromising language helps cement the president`s reputation for some in Iran as a "strong man, with support around the Islamic world," says Mr. Mohebian, the resulting pressure from outside and inside Iran could make him "more radical."