While the U.S. State Department insists that it has met with an Iranian official over the alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., Iran denies having had any direct meetings over the issue.
Ria Novosti reports that State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told a press conference on Thursday that department officials had met with Iranians on Tuesday. Iran, however, denies having any meeting over the alleged plot to assassinate Saudi ambassador.
On Tuesday, American officials accused the international arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the Quds Force, of being involved in an assassination plot against Adel Al-Jubeir, the Saudi ambassador.
Mansour Arbabsiar, an Iranian who also holds U.S. citizenship, was arrested at Kennedy Airport on September 29, accused of being involved in the plot. U.S. officials have named another three Iranians, currently in Iran, who they say were involved in the plot.
The Iranian ambassador to the UN has written a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemning the accusations against Iran and calling them a mark of U.S. “vengefulness” against Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader has implicitly responded to the accusation, saying that “recurring foolish and useless” attempts by the West to “create a fear of Iran” will fail as usual.
U.S. President Barack Obama, calling the situation very serious, has mused about stepping up the international sanctions against Iran.
Saudi officials have announced that they are still considering an appropriate course of action.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has urged Saudi Arabia not to be deceived by the “American political games.”
