IRAN CRISIS: U.S. Senator John McCain said on Tuesday that he appreciated President Barack Obama’s tougher stand toward the post-election situation in Iran, but said that the administration should take additional actions.

Speaking on CNN hours after Obama “strongly condemned” Iran crackdown on protesters, McCain said that the White House should consider new United Nations sanctions against Iran and reconsider its offer of direct talks with Tehran.

“You can’t seriously negotiate with a country that’s beating and killing their citizens, and I don’t think the president quite understands that,” the Republican senator said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

On Tuesday, Obama dismissed suggestions that he had hardened his stance in response to criticism from McCain and other Republicans.

“I think John McCain has genuine passion about many of these international issues, and I think that all of us share a belief that we want justice to prevail,” Obama told reporters at a White House news conference, adding: “I'm president of the United States, and I'll carry out my duties as I think are appropriate.”

McCain said that he agreed that “there’s only one president,” but defended his right to speak out.

“Many of us who have had long years of experience on these issues not only have the right to speak out, but we have the obligation to speak out on behalf of people who are being oppressed,” he was quoted by AFP as saying.