-WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Protests in Iran have led to the "beginnings of change" there, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Tuesday, echoing the central theme of President Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.

"We've seen the beginnings of change in Iran," Gibbs said on NBC's "Today" Show.


But Gibbs cautioned that Obama will not endorse a general strike there or otherwise get involved with specific actions inside Iran, which has been engulfed by street protests since a disputed June 12 presidential election.

Obama has sharpened his criticism of the Iranian government for cracking down on demonstrators, while trying to avoid the appearance of meddling.

He is expected to address the massive protests at a 12:30 p.m. EDT press conference in the White House Rose Garden.

Obama used "change" as the central theme of his presidential candidacy to emphasize his differences from unpopular Republican incumbent George W. Bush, as well as more-established Democratic rivals like Hillary Clinton.