WASHINGTON  – President Barack Obama said Friday the United States and Germany share “one voice” in condemning the Iranian effort to crush dissent. He said Iran’s leaders cannot hide the “outrageous” behavior of clamping down violently on their people.

“We see it and we condemn it,” Obama said.

Obama spoke in a joint White House appearance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after they conferred privately. The two leaders have met three times since Obama took office, allies linked by such international troubles as the war in Afghanistan and a worldwide recession.

Keeping pressure on Iran, Obama hailed the Iranian people.

“Their bravery in the face of brutality is a testament to their enduring pursuit of justice,” Obama said.

“The violence perpetrated against them is outrageous. In spite of the government’s efforts to keep the world from bearing witness to that violence, we see it and we condemn it,” he said.

Merkel backed Obama’s stand. And she said Iran must be kept from getting a nuclear weapon.