Mariah Carey: Not obsessed about Iran

New York, NY -- In a rare display of political candor, US pop star Mariah Carey has implored the global community to "just leave Iran and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad alone."

Calling in to the Today show and speaking with weatherman Al Roker, the 39-year-old singer expressed her exasperation over the non-stop, obsessive worrying over Iran and the election fraud that allegedly occurred there recently.

"I really don't understand what everyone's freakin' about," Carey said. "It's just an election, people. Chill out."

The pop star, who is due to release a new studio album in August, said she can empathize with the Iranian President-elect, whom she called an "imperfect angel," referring to the title of her new release.

"When I hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the 18th time last year, everyone was like, 'Oh she cheated and bought her hits', and I was like, 'Whatever, get over it.'," Carey said.

The singer advised Ahmadinejad to hang in there and "not let the detractors take away what's rightfully yours," urging him to listen to her earlier hits "Hero" and "Can't Take That Away" for inspiration.

"Those songs really pick me up whenever I feel like the entire world is coming down on me, and not in a good way," she said, chuckling.

Carey closed her brief phone interview with Roker with a message to all the Iranian people: "I love you all, my little Persian lambs. Don't forget to buy my album, 'Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel.' And, um, hang in there!"