WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a resolution Friday that says it supports "all Iranians who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties and the rule of law."



Throngs in Tehran cheer Thursday for defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi, center.



The resolution was approved by 405 lawmakers, while one -- Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas -- voted against it. Two others, Reps. Brad Ellsworth, D-Indiana, and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, voted "present."



In a statement on his Web site, Paul said he voted against the measure because he is "always very cautious about 'condemning' the actions of governments overseas."



"I have always hesitated when my colleagues rush to pronounce final judgment on events thousands of miles away about which we know very little," said Paul, who attracted attention last year during his unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination. "And we know very little beyond limited press reports about what is happening in Iran."



The resolution, which also "condemns the ongoing violence against demonstrators," was sponsored by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman, D-California, and two Republicans, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia.



Speaking shortly after the resolution passed, Pence called it a message from Americans to the Iranian people.



"As Americans have done throughout our history, this Congress today, on behalf of the American people, has spoken a word of heartfelt support to all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties and the rule of law," he said.



He urged U.S. senators to support the identical resolution that Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, introduced Friday.



Both Pence and McCain have been outspoken in their criticism of President Obama's response to massive rallies in Iran against the results of last week's presidential election.  Watch as Obama walks a fine line »



Supporters of Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi have taken to the streets this week calling for a new election after the results of the June 12 vote showed an overwhelming victory for hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.



The rallies also have denounced the Iranian government's crackdown on the protests in which at least eight people have died.



Obama has said he is "deeply troubled" by the violence, but he has avoided siding with Ahmadinejad's opponents, telling reporters, "It is up to Iranians to make decisions about who Iran's leaders will be."



"It's not productive, given the history of U.S.-Iranian relations, to be seen as meddling, the U.S. president meddling in Iranian elections," Obama said this week.



But several Republicans, particularly McCain -- Obama's opponent in last year's presidential race -- have criticized the administration's position.



McCain introduced a resolution on the Senate floor Friday morning that he said would be "an expression of support by the government and the people of the United States of America" for those protesting the election results.



"It is unfortunate in a way that this resolution is required since the administration does not want to 'meddle' and has refused, the president has refused to speak out in support of these brave Iranian citizens, most of them young, who are risking their very lives to protest what was clearly an unfair and corrupt election," McCain told his fellow senators.  Watch what else McCain said about Obama »



The resolution passed Friday states that the House:



On Thursday, Cantor joined the critics of the White House, saying the United States has a "moral responsibility" to condemn attacks on protesters.



"The administration's position that what's going on in Iran is a 'vigorous debate' is absurd," he said. "People are being brutalized and murdered by the regime in Tehran. We have no idea exactly how many have died or have been seriously injured since the regime has restricted journalists. In no way do these actions constitute a 'vigorous debate.' "



Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House
What is John McCain's job? Who offered a similar resolution in the Senate? What did McCain criticize? What was the house vote count? What did President Obama warn against? Who offered the resolution in the Senate? Who said that, we know very little about what is happening in Iran?
Sen. Sen. John McCain, President Obama's response to massive rallies in Iran 405 meddling in Iranian elections," The U.S. House of Representatives Rep. Ron Paul,
question: What is John McCain's job?, answer: Sen. | question: Who offered a similar resolution in the Senate?, answer: Sen. John McCain, | question: What did McCain criticize?, answer: President Obama's response to massive rallies in Iran | question: What was the house vote count?, answer: 405 | question: What did President Obama warn against?, answer: meddling in Iranian elections," | question: Who offered the resolution in the Senate?, answer: The U.S. House of Representatives | question: Who said that, we know very little about what is happening in Iran?, answer: Rep. Ron Paul,