U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Tehran's crackdown on demonstrators, after it had praised the popular uprising in Egypt, shows the "hypocrisy" of the Iranian government.

Emerging after a budget discussion with the new House leader, Clinton said the United States "clearly and directly" supports the aspirations of the protesters in Iran, who were violently dispersed on Feb 14 by security forces in Tehran.

She said the United States stood for political change in Egypt and wants the same for Iran.

Clinton stressed the irony of the Iranian government’s crackdown at home, while paying lip service to the rights of protestors elsewhere.

"What we see happening in Iran today is a testament to the courage of the Iranian people and an indictment of the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime - a regime, which over the last three weeks has constantly hailed what went on in Egypt. And now, when given the opportunity to afford their people the same rights as they called for on behalf of the Egyptian people, [Iran's leaders] once again illustrate their true nature," she said.

State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley later expressed deep concern about reported casualties in the Tehran crackdown and said Clinton’s critical depiction of the Iranian government response was "well earned."

"Security forces are arresting, beating and using tear gas against protesters as well as blocking them from using public transportation, cell phones and other means of communication. Iran reportedly continues to jam news coverage in the country. Both major opposition leaders remain under house arrest, and this is in conjunction with a wave of other arrests of opposition figures," he said, VOA News reported.