Clinton to hold Iran accountable for Saudi envoy plot
October 13th, 2011 - 3:31 am ICT by IANSWashington, Oct 13 (IANS) US State Secretary Hillary Clinton Wednesday vowed to hold Iran accountable for its alleged involvement in a “terror plot” to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Xinhua reported.
This plot was “a flagrant violation of international and US law and a dangerous escalation of the Iranian government’s long-standing use of political violence and sponsorship of terrorism,” Clinton said during an event organised by the Centre for American Progress.
“This kind of reckless act undermines international norms and the international system,” she said. “Iran must be held accountable for its actions.”
Clinton’s tough-worded remarks came after two men were charged by the US Justice Department Tuesday for their alleged participation in a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the US.
The two suspects are Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year- old naturalised US citizen holding both Iranian and US passports, and Iranian Gholam Shakuri.
Clinton pledged to work closely with international partners to “increase Iran’s isolation and the pressure on its government,” urging other nations to join the US in condemning this plot.
She also noted that the US has increased sanctions on individuals within the Iranian government who are believed to be tied to this plot.
Clinton was referring to Tuesday’s announcement by the US Treasury Department to slap sanctions on five individuals, including four senior officers from the Quds Force, an elite division of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for foreign operations.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi Wednesday strongly rejected the US accusations.
- US sanctions five men linked to kill Saudi envoy (Lead) - Oct 12, 2011
- Obama vows to apply toughest sanctions on Iran - Oct 14, 2011
- Obama calls Saudi envoy on assassination attempt - Oct 12, 2011
- US charges two men for planning to kill Saudi envoy - Oct 12, 2011
- Hand over murder plot suspect: US to Iran - Oct 18, 2011
- Iranian leader says alleged assassination plot 'absurd' - Oct 16, 2011
- India abstains from Saudi-sponsored resolution aimed at Iran - Nov 19, 2011
- Iran to respond 'strongly' to any 'destructive' US act - Oct 16, 2011
- Iran does not need assassinations: Ahmadinejad - Oct 16, 2011
- Iran says ready for defence cooperation with Egypt, Libya - Oct 30, 2011
- US poised to pressure Iran over plot to kill Saudi envoy - Oct 12, 2011
- Iran summons Swiss diplomat over US assassination charge - Oct 12, 2011
- No 'direct contact' with US : Iran - Oct 15, 2011
- Iran rejects US claims over assassination plot - Oct 13, 2011
- Ready to examine US evidence on alleged assassination plot: Iran - Oct 18, 2011
Tags: ali akbar, centre for american progress, dangerous escalation, elite division, flagrant violation, foreign operations, gholam, hillary clinton, international norms, iranian foreign minister, iranian government, political violence, reckless act, salehi, saudi ambassador, state secretary, terror plot, treasury department, us justice department, us treasury department