Tehran, Aug 10 (Xinhua) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his government will 'severely punish bullying powers', referring to some Western nations for allegedly stoking post-election unrest in the country.

Tehran will take stern action against the bullying powers (Western states), responsible for fanning flames of dissent, state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday citing the Iranian leader.

Iranian officials blamed the Western countries of meddling in Iran's post-election violence.

Tehran says the West irresponsibly interfered in Iran's internal affairs in an attempt to carry out a 'velvet coup' against the country's religious system.

A day before Ahmadinejad's swearing-in, the US, Britain and Germany said they would not congratulate the Iranian president on the occasion.

On Wednesday, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for a second term as Iran's president amid widespread unrest over irregularities in the June 12 presidential election which he won by a large margin.

Ahmadinejad is expected to introduce his new cabinet to the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) in the next few days.