Saudi Arabia condemns alleged Iran plot; White House blames Iran’s Quds Force
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council on Wednesday condemned the alleged Iran plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Washington, as the White House claimed that senior members of Iran’s Quds force participated in the act.
Saudi Arabia said the plot, thwarted by a U.S. source, was a “sinful and abhorrent” assassination attempt to kill the Saudi diplomat, SPA state news agency reported, quoting an unnamed official.
“The Kingdom strongly condemns the sinful and abhorrent attempt to assassinate the (Saudi) envoy... to the United States,” SPA said, quoting the official.
“The government of the kingdom appreciates the efforts exerted by the American authorities, which were followed by the kingdom, in uncovering the plot,” the official added.
Saudi Arabia “will continue to coordinate with the U.S. authorities over this mean conspiracy and those behind it,” the official said.
Saudi Arabia said the plot, thwarted by a U.S. source, was a “sinful and abhorrent” assassination attempt to kill the Saudi diplomat, SPA state news agency reported, quoting an unnamed official.
“The Kingdom strongly condemns the sinful and abhorrent attempt to assassinate the (Saudi) envoy... to the United States,” SPA said, quoting the official.
“The government of the kingdom appreciates the efforts exerted by the American authorities, which were followed by the kingdom, in uncovering the plot,” the official added.
Saudi Arabia “will continue to coordinate with the U.S. authorities over this mean conspiracy and those behind it,” the official said.
White House taking ‘no options off the table’ in dealing with Iran
Meanwhile, the White House said late Wednesday that members of Iran’s Quds force participated in the alleged plot and that the United States would hold Tehran accountable, Reuters reported. Iran’s Quds Force is a special unit of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards.
“It’s clear that senior levels of Quds Force were engaged in the plotting,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters, saying that Washington would respond by intensifying efforts to isolate Iran.
Iran’s response to the plot allegations has been controversial, however. Iran said that the claims were an “evil plot” by the United States, in a complaint sent late Tuesday to the United Nations.
A top commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday denied any involvement of the force in the alleged plot after America claimed that the Guards may have been involved, AFP reported.
“America’s claims about the involvement of some members of the Guards in the fabricated terror plot (targeting) a diplomat from an Arab country in Washington are ridiculous and baseless,” Guards deputy commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami was quoted as saying on the state television website.
“These actions are a threadbare and baseless scenario, and in effect seek to divert public opinion from the anti-Wall Street movement and America’s failures in carrying out its policies of oppression in the (Middle East) region and around the world,” he said.
The White House also said it was taking “no options off the table” in dealing with Iran after U.S. authorities broke up the alleged plot, but that U.S. policy was focused on pressing sanctions on Tehran.
“We’re responding very concretely with actions we know will have an impact on Iran and will make clear this kind of behavior is unacceptable and will further isolate Iran,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.
But he stopped of citing any specific measures under consideration, except to say that Washington was discussing the issue with allies around the world “to continue to isolate Iran.”
“It’s clear that senior levels of Quds Force were engaged in the plotting,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters, saying that Washington would respond by intensifying efforts to isolate Iran.
Iran’s response to the plot allegations has been controversial, however. Iran said that the claims were an “evil plot” by the United States, in a complaint sent late Tuesday to the United Nations.
A top commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday denied any involvement of the force in the alleged plot after America claimed that the Guards may have been involved, AFP reported.
“America’s claims about the involvement of some members of the Guards in the fabricated terror plot (targeting) a diplomat from an Arab country in Washington are ridiculous and baseless,” Guards deputy commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami was quoted as saying on the state television website.
“These actions are a threadbare and baseless scenario, and in effect seek to divert public opinion from the anti-Wall Street movement and America’s failures in carrying out its policies of oppression in the (Middle East) region and around the world,” he said.
The White House also said it was taking “no options off the table” in dealing with Iran after U.S. authorities broke up the alleged plot, but that U.S. policy was focused on pressing sanctions on Tehran.
“We’re responding very concretely with actions we know will have an impact on Iran and will make clear this kind of behavior is unacceptable and will further isolate Iran,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.
But he stopped of citing any specific measures under consideration, except to say that Washington was discussing the issue with allies around the world “to continue to isolate Iran.”
Saudi Arabia and GCC condemn alleged plot
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, is also “looking into measures and decisive steps that it will take in this regard to stop these criminal acts, and to firmly address all attempts to shake the stability of the kingdom and endanger its security and sow sedition between its people,” the Saudi official added.
“The kingdom calls on the Arab and Islamic nations and the international community to assume their responsibilities in face of these terrorist acts and the attempts to threaten state stability, and world security and peace,” he said.
The secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also condemned the alleged plot, saying they would severely harm relations between the Arab Gulf and Iran.
Abdulattif al-Zayani said in a statement he considered the plot a “flagrant violation” of all laws and international agreements. He called on Iran to rebuild its relationships with the GCC nations - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday charged two men with conspiring with Iranian officials to assassinate Saudi ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir.
“The kingdom calls on the Arab and Islamic nations and the international community to assume their responsibilities in face of these terrorist acts and the attempts to threaten state stability, and world security and peace,” he said.
The secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also condemned the alleged plot, saying they would severely harm relations between the Arab Gulf and Iran.
Abdulattif al-Zayani said in a statement he considered the plot a “flagrant violation” of all laws and international agreements. He called on Iran to rebuild its relationships with the GCC nations - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday charged two men with conspiring with Iranian officials to assassinate Saudi ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir.
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