Iranian Terror Plot in Washington, U.S. Claims

Iran rejects any involvement

BBC: US Attorney General Eric Holder says the alleged conspiracy was "conceived, sponsored and directed from Iran" The US says it has broken up a major terror plot in which agents linked to Iran sought to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington. Two men originally from Iran - one a naturalised US citizen - have been charged with counts of conspiracy, Attorney General Eric Holder said. Mr Holder described the $1.5m assassination plot as being "conceived, sponsored and directed by Iran", and said Tehran would be held accountable for its alleged involvement. Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency called the charges a "propaganda campaign" by the US government against Tehran >>>



Iran rejects accusation:


11-Oct-2011
Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by mehrdadmCommentsDate
Omid Djalili: The Baha'i Faith in Words and Images
11
Dec 05, 2012
Dimmed Lanterns
1
Dec 05, 2012
Iranian TV shows off 'captured US ScanEagle drone'
5
Dec 04, 2012
more from mehrdadm
 
Sheila K

why not go to Saudi?

by Sheila K on

Iranians have one foot in Arab countries especially Saudi with 100,000s travelling there on a yearly basis many of whom work for the Islamic gov't and are revolutionary elite. So why not do it there? why go to Mexican drug lords (how?)? 

No matter what Saudis may say in public about Iran, they have strong ties with Iran. Iran would never kill a high profile Arab-Muslim-Brother in American soil. That would be a geopolitical suicide for Iran. They kill their own but spread their love in the region giving away Iran's natural resources to gain influence.

I am sure the Saudi diplomat is not convinced this is an IRI plot, but I doubt he'd be coming back to the US anytime soon. 


Arj

Odd!

by Arj on

Not that IRI is not capable of carrying out such terrorist attacks, but this does not seem like IRI's routine modus operandi. It looks sloppy, unprofessional and clumsy! For one thing that IRI excells at is terrorist attakcs in addition to hostage taking and assassinations! Bavafa's point are quite valid, especially as to why would they try to hit Americans on their own soil, let alone an irrelavant Saudi diplomat. Actually, IRI has proved to be quite efficient in not leaving any traces behind when targeting Americans abroad (e.g. Khobar attack in Saudi Arabia and Marines base in Lebanon!

Yet, the more curious question is why the U.S., who looked the other way with Khobar and Beirut bombongs, is now making a case of this plot?! Perhaps time shall tell!


default

Why was he let go....?

by darius on

Based on this article he was implicated on 2004 for international terrorist plot.

Arbabsiar, shown here after he was arrested in 2004 in Williamson County, was implicated in an international terrorist plot.

" Caller .com

Why was he let go?

Was he recruited by FBI then?

Or was he recruited by IRI after he moved to Iran?

 

Also

But here’s the thing I really don’t get.

This complaint charges Arbabsiar and Ali Gholam Shakuri, who is apparently a Colonel in the Quds force. But the whole plot was originally conceived of by his cousin (called “Individual 1″ or “Iranian Official 1″ in the complaint), who is a Quds General “wanted in America.” In addition, Arbabsiar spoke with another high-ranking Quds official. His cousin provided him the money for the plot, and directed him to carry it out.:Empty wheel.com

 

Who is  the niece, how come he is not charged with anything? 

 


AMIR1973

This is very typical IRI move in many ways

by AMIR1973 on

The IRI and Syrian regimes have been implicated in the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri in Beirut. The IRI was behind the bombings of the U.S., French, and Israeli embassies in Kuwait, Lebanon, and Argentina. They bombed the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires. They have been involved in kidnappings, hijackings, killings, and hostage takings of Iranians and Westerners in the Mideast, Europe, North America and South America (I'm sure you know that those are all fabrications of the U.S and Israelis, and the IRI was innocent of those charges -- sure they are). The IRI is also currently harboring the murderer of Tabatabaee, who was killed around the Washington D.C. area shortly after the An-Gholab (in fact, the guy works for IRI's Press TV!). So we are now supposed to be shocked that they are again plotting murder on U.S. soil?


Bavafa

There are more questions than answers…

by Bavafa on

Should this be all true and no surprises, giving the amateurish way of going about this one wonders:

 

-          Who within IRI power system is/was behind this

 

-          What was their motivation

 

-          Why a SA official and why on US soil

  Unless those power system within IRI are seriously looking to provoke a fight with US directly.  Otherwise who would go about such plan and hire one’s cousin to be the main go-between with direct link back to IRI?

 

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad


Anonymous Observer

Simple explanation

by Anonymous Observer on

There is no doubt that this is pretty sloppy, and uncharacteristic of IR's intelligence aparatus.  One explanation could be that this was planned by a faction within the IR.  Hence the sloppiness--as that faction was probably unable to engage the entire intelligence force in support of the plan.  The goal of the faction was probably to create some kind of a chaotic situation inside and outside of Iran--perhaps even a military conflict-- with the ultimate goal of rallying the people around the IR.  That's the simplest and most reasonable explanation.  

The other explanation could be that sanctions are really taking a toll on the IR, and they wanted to escalate the level of conflict in the hopes of reaching some kind of a "final solution" to the impass.  

In either event, I hope for the U.S. to close the IR spy nest in Washington, DC.  Not only those pieces of dirt should be deported from the U.S., but closing that rat hole will also have the added benefit of annoying the U.S. residing, IR supporting, chelo kabob eating Iranians.    


Jahanshah Javid

odd

by Jahanshah Javid on

Everything about this case looks odd. The accused can hardly be described as a professional, even for a terrorist. The Saudi ambassador would not be high on the list of Iran's enemies. An attack of this magnitude in the US capital would have been nothing short of an act of war. And then contacting the Mexican drug cartel to do your dirty work? None of it makes sense.

Trace the $100,000 that was supposedly wired to a New York bank, find out who made the deposit and maybe then we'd find out something more solid.


amirparvizforsecularmonarchy

IRI has so many bigger fish in USA, why a Saudi Ambassador?

by amirparvizforsecularmonarchy on

I doubt there is any faction in Iran would want to conduct such an operation on US soil with the retaliation it would entail.  No Sense to it.  Unless you believe the regime actually wants to have the USA humiliate it for some purpose, like unity because it is weak, I doubt it etc.


ham1328

I'm not surprised a bit!!

by ham1328 on

A terrorist government would do just that, TERRORIST ACTS. IRI is a terrorist entity and it's engaging in terrorist acts everywhere, inside and outside of Iran.

 

To assassinate the Saudi ambassador in U.S., would have been revenging their action in Bahrain. And yes, IRI is a lot dumber that some of you supportes of the regime think!!


G. Rahmanian

Exactly!!!

by G. Rahmanian on

Who cares if they are Russian spies or IR terrorists. Is the whole thing a big lie? So be it. This is a problem the US should deal with. As long as it hurts IR, I would be very pleased. Day in and day out the Islamists in Tehran are persecuting, arresting, torturing, raping and lynching Iranians on fabricated charges and here we are reading about US conspiracy! Who gives damn? Let the Islamists ruling Iran suffer the consequences!


Albaloo

Phony baloney.  

by Albaloo on

Phony baloney.  


Arthimis

I agree with many here as

by Arthimis on

I agree with many here as this whole " Fishy, Dumb & Clumbsy" Plot doesn't make sense as Islamic Republic has proven to be so careful about not making any stupid mistake to this magnitude & caliber on international level like this one !! They knew they could get away by imprisoning, torturing & killing innocent Iranians and at the end no one would really do anything about it or was really willing to stop them, but they knew their attacks against foreign targets of such level would never be left unnoticed & without serious consequences!!! 

At this moment (or perhaps forever...) , no one can claim if this story "Plot" is true or not... If it is fabricated story by The U.S. for it's own interest or if it is an act of self sabotage by a faction from within the I.R.!!! No one knows and most likely will never know the truth... So any debate over it is simply a BIG AND EVEN MORE WASTE OF TIME AFTER 34 YEARS!!!

Having said that however, one thing is for sure : Something against I.R. is in the making and this is a PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR IRANIANS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE IRAN TO BECOME UNITED (ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!) AND USE IT IN IRAN'S FAVOR & AGAINST ISLAMIC REPUBLIC, THE OCCUPIERS OF IRAN FOR THE PAST 34 LONG AND DARK YEARS, TO BRING THEM DOWN ONCE AND FOR ALL BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!

FREE IRAN AND IRANIANS. 


default

چه کسی‌ برای این عمل تنبیه خواهد شد

sam jade


تحریم مالی‌ ۵ ساله ٔبر علیه ایران شروع شده ، عربستان هم تلافی میکنه ، بدبختی اینجاست که مردم بیگناه ایران تنبیه می‌شند زندگی‌ آنها با تحریم ،و محدودیت بین المللی بدتر میشه ،آخوند که حرف مفت میزنه ، مثل خمینی دیوس که گفت "آمریکا هیچ غلطی نمیتواند  کند " ، نتیجه اش ۸ سال جنگ ۱ میلیون کشته شد، خرمشهر هنوز یک شهر نیمه خراب جنگ زده است ، اون که حرف بود حالا که مدرک کافی‌ دارند ، تازه ترور سفارت اسرائیل در آرژانتین هم دو باره مطرح شده ،


Disenchanted

Smells like FISH!

by Disenchanted on

 

      Well, it begs the question what is so special about Saudi ambassador in US? Why choose US? If the goal was to send a message to Saudis, say about Bahrain any other Saudi target would do!  

      It just doesn't make any sense!


G. Rahmanian

For Some Entities There Are Good Reasons To Defend IR!

by G. Rahmanian on

Once an Iranian told me there was no spy agency in the country where he was living as a researcher. And why would he say such an outrageously dumb thing? He was granted a scholarship for his post-doctoral research from the government of that country. Does anyone need a more legitimate reason than that?


default

Where is the gain for IRI in a plot like this? ..fishy!!!!

by farrad02 on

How is a dumb and clumbsy plot like this consistent with a foreign policy that has been beating US and Israel at every turn for 30 years? 

I'm far from being a fan of IRI but this whole news report is fishy!

It doesn't add up!!!

 


asadabad

Remember Ali Akbar Tabatabaei

by asadabad on

In 1980, the Iranian regime murdered Ali Akbar Tabatabaei in Maryland!  Tabatabaei was a press attache for the Iranian embassy in Washington DC during the Shah's time.  Why is it so hard to believe that they would strike again?  This shows how cowardly the regime is.  They will never fight like men.  They only murder Iranian girls in the streets, attack diplomatic missions, and torture hikers.


default

Extra Info

by darius on

//www.emptywheel.net/

 

Just to see how others have reactioned to the news. 


divaneh

Where is the gain?

by divaneh on

I still cannot see what could Iran gain from it. Having said that, it seems that every force in Iran is a government of its own and it is possible that one faction was trying to do this to hurt the interests of another faction.

It can also be some fabrication by the US to isolate Iran even more. I would not be surprised if the Iranian consul would be kicked out of US. How I wish we had a unified opposition who could capitalise on this for its own gains.


Daadaash

Totally agree...

by Daadaash on

I totally agree, this is just a distraction from their Fu#% Up, aka: Fast & Furious!  The misinformed public buys this BS!


Oon Yaroo

"Arbabsiar owned several businesses in Corpus Christi, including

by Oon Yaroo on

"...Arbabsiar owned several businesses in Corpus Christi, including Gyros
& Kabab in Sunrise Mall, Stop and Buy on Staples and used car lots...."

 


Faramarz

His Nickname was Scarface!

by Faramarz on

An interesting article about Mansour Arbabsiar, aka the Scarface! They say that he did it for the money.

 

//www.caller.com/news/2011/oct/11/terror-susp...


G. Rahmanian

Faramarz:

by G. Rahmanian on

Cafe Milano? Wow! This is even better than Dinner Rush. Crazy Americans are going to pack the restaurant for years to come. This whole thing could be an Italian-orchestrated terrorism conspiracy theory to sell more spaghetti!!!


vildemose

To use weapon of mass

by vildemose on

To use weapon of mass destruction??? 

 

"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." - Louis D. Brandeis


Oon Yaroo

Faramarz, a couple of blocks away from the IRR interest section

by Oon Yaroo on

on Wisconsin Ave. Just perfect for close monitoring, damage assessment, and reporting back...These SoBs should be hung from their nuts!

 


vildemose

OI: the Regime keeps

by vildemose on

OI: the Regime keeps making one mistakes after another. This show how weak the regime has become. 

 

"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." - Louis D. Brandeis


Onlyiran

Not surprised at all!

by Onlyiran on

This is what a terrorist state does. And this is where Iranian people's money is going. The event is significant however in that it is the first time that the IRI has so overtly used its own Iranian agents as opposed to foreign mercenaries. The first time in the U.S., at least. There were the Mikonos and Bakhtiar terrorist operations in Europe. But why the Saudi ambassador? Revenge for Bahrain and the statements made by the Saudi king about "cutting the head of the snake?"


vildemose

who is this US

by vildemose on

who is this US citizen? 

 

"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." - Louis D. Brandeis


Oon Yaroo

Shushtari, as they say, "Een Tow BemeRee Az Oon Tow BemeReeha

by Oon Yaroo on

Neest Deegeh!"

This time it's serious and we should go all the way!

Special forces, special weapons, and special everything should be at the US disposal to get these criminals wiped out of the map of the humanity once and for all!

 


عموجان

What is it Islamic Republic wants from Iranian?

by عموجان on

On one hand they are making life miserable for people in the country so they are force to leave, on the other hand they do shit like this so nobody wouldn’t let them in any country. Oh, do I hate Islam, what is this religion is about.