Refraining from making direct comment on the re-election of Iranian incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the United States said on Saturday it would continue to monitor the political development in the Islamic Republic.

In a short statement, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that "Like the rest of the world, we were impressed by the vigorous debate and enthusiasm that this election generated, particularly among young Iranians. We continue to monitor the entire situation closely, including reports of irregularities."

Ahmadinejad has won a landslide victory in the 10th presidential election, securing a second term of presidency for the next four years, Iran's Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli announced earlier in the day.

Some 39 million out of 46.2 million eligible voters cast their ballots and the voter turnout is about 85 percent, Iranian officials said.

The United States, which severed its ties with Iran in 1980, has been at odds with Tehran on, among others, its support for militant groups and disputed nuclear program.

Iran denies the U.S. charges, and insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Source: Xinhua