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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| US to pressure Iran over 'plot to kill Saudi envoy' | US to pressure Iran over 'plot to kill Saudi envoy' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The US secretary of state has called for a "very strong message" to be sent to Iran, after allegations of a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the US. | The US secretary of state has called for a "very strong message" to be sent to Iran, after allegations of a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the US. |
| Hillary Clinton said Washington was preparing new penalties against Iran, which is already subject to a variety of international sanctions. | Hillary Clinton said Washington was preparing new penalties against Iran, which is already subject to a variety of international sanctions. |
| Two Iranians were charged over the plot which US officials said implicated Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. | Two Iranians were charged over the plot which US officials said implicated Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. |
| Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani said the claims were a "childish game". | Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani said the claims were a "childish game". |
| The US also issued a worldwide alert warning of more threats to US interests. | The US also issued a worldwide alert warning of more threats to US interests. |
| "The US government assesses that this Iranian-backed plan to assassinate the Saudi ambassador may indicate a more aggressive focus by the Iranian government on terrorist activity against diplomats from certain countries, to include possible attacks in the United States," the alert said. | "The US government assesses that this Iranian-backed plan to assassinate the Saudi ambassador may indicate a more aggressive focus by the Iranian government on terrorist activity against diplomats from certain countries, to include possible attacks in the United States," the alert said. |
| It urged Americans residing and travelling abroad to review the information available when making travel plans. | It urged Americans residing and travelling abroad to review the information available when making travel plans. |
| 'Well-grounded suspicions' | 'Well-grounded suspicions' |
| Mrs Clinton praised those involved in the operation to uncover the plot. | Mrs Clinton praised those involved in the operation to uncover the plot. |
| "It was a terrific achievement by our law enforcement and intelligence communities, and we will be consulting with our friends and partners around the world about how we can send a very strong message that this kind of action, which violates international norms, must be ended," she said at a news conference. | "It was a terrific achievement by our law enforcement and intelligence communities, and we will be consulting with our friends and partners around the world about how we can send a very strong message that this kind of action, which violates international norms, must be ended," she said at a news conference. |
| "This case will, I think, reinforce the well-grounded suspicions of many countries about what they're up to." | "This case will, I think, reinforce the well-grounded suspicions of many countries about what they're up to." |
| Mrs Clinton said the suspected plotters had been trying to involve hired killers from Mexican drug cartels. | Mrs Clinton said the suspected plotters had been trying to involve hired killers from Mexican drug cartels. |
| "The idea that they would attempt to go to a Mexican drug cartel to solicit murder-for-hire to kill the Saudi ambassador, nobody could make that up, right?" she said. | "The idea that they would attempt to go to a Mexican drug cartel to solicit murder-for-hire to kill the Saudi ambassador, nobody could make that up, right?" she said. |
| US Attorney General Eric Holder said Iran's involvement in the plot was "a flagrant violation of US and international law". | US Attorney General Eric Holder said Iran's involvement in the plot was "a flagrant violation of US and international law". |
| There is a long history of animosity between Iran and Saudi Arabia which stretches back to before the Islamic Revolution of 1979. | There is a long history of animosity between Iran and Saudi Arabia which stretches back to before the Islamic Revolution of 1979. |
| Religiously, the Wahhabi rulers of Saudi Arabia and the Shia clerics of Iran reject each other's interpretation of Islam. | Religiously, the Wahhabi rulers of Saudi Arabia and the Shia clerics of Iran reject each other's interpretation of Islam. |
| Geopolitically, the two are staunch rivals, engaged in a seemingly never-ending battle for greater regional influence. | Geopolitically, the two are staunch rivals, engaged in a seemingly never-ending battle for greater regional influence. |
| They have also been engaged in proxy wars for decades, taking different sides in the Iran-Iraq war, Afghanistan, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. | They have also been engaged in proxy wars for decades, taking different sides in the Iran-Iraq war, Afghanistan, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. |
| But it is the Saudis' military intervention in Bahrain which may have prompted the alleged plot. It was little criticised in the West but was seen in Iran as a blatant assault on the Shia majority in Bahrain. | But it is the Saudis' military intervention in Bahrain which may have prompted the alleged plot. It was little criticised in the West but was seen in Iran as a blatant assault on the Shia majority in Bahrain. |
| In a statement, UK Prime Minister David Cameron's office said: "Indications that this plot was directed by elements of the Iranian regime are shocking. We will support measures to hold Iran accountable for its actions." | In a statement, UK Prime Minister David Cameron's office said: "Indications that this plot was directed by elements of the Iranian regime are shocking. We will support measures to hold Iran accountable for its actions." |
| A spokesman for Mr Cameron said London and Washington were "in close touch" and discussing further action against Iran. | A spokesman for Mr Cameron said London and Washington were "in close touch" and discussing further action against Iran. |
| The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed "grave concern" about the plot. | The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed "grave concern" about the plot. |
| "Should the facts be confirmed, this would constitute a major breach of international law with serious international implications," her spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told AFP news agency. | "Should the facts be confirmed, this would constitute a major breach of international law with serious international implications," her spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told AFP news agency. |
| But Iranian officials condemned the allegations as a diversionary tactic. | But Iranian officials condemned the allegations as a diversionary tactic. |
| "These are cheap claims. By giving it a wide media coverage, it was evident that they are trying to cover up their own problems," the Associated Press quoted Mr Larijani as saying to MPs. | "These are cheap claims. By giving it a wide media coverage, it was evident that they are trying to cover up their own problems," the Associated Press quoted Mr Larijani as saying to MPs. |
| "We have normal relations with the Saudis. There is no reason for Iran to carry out such childish acts." | "We have normal relations with the Saudis. There is no reason for Iran to carry out such childish acts." |
| US officials have said military action was not being considered. | US officials have said military action was not being considered. |
| The US Treasury Department placed five Iranians, including the two men charged, under sanctions on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in the plot. | The US Treasury Department placed five Iranians, including the two men charged, under sanctions on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in the plot. |
| The two accused were named as Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalised US citizen with dual Iranian and US passports, and Gholam Shakuri, based in Iran and said to be a member of Iran's Quds Force, a unit of the Revolutionary Guard Corps. | The two accused were named as Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalised US citizen with dual Iranian and US passports, and Gholam Shakuri, based in Iran and said to be a member of Iran's Quds Force, a unit of the Revolutionary Guard Corps. |
| The other three were described as high-ranking members of the Quds force. | The other three were described as high-ranking members of the Quds force. |
| Mr Arbabsiar, who was arrested at New York's John F Kennedy airport on 29 September, has confessed to his involvement in the alleged plot, Mr Holder said. | Mr Arbabsiar, who was arrested at New York's John F Kennedy airport on 29 September, has confessed to his involvement in the alleged plot, Mr Holder said. |
| A lawyer for Mr Arbabsiar said he would plead not guilty when he was officially indicted. | A lawyer for Mr Arbabsiar said he would plead not guilty when he was officially indicted. |
| 'Shocking' | 'Shocking' |
| Mr Shakuri was said to be in Iran. | Mr Shakuri was said to be in Iran. |
| US officials said that on 24 May 2011, Mr Arbabsiar made contact with an informant for the US Drug Enforcement Agency, who was posing as a Mexican drug cartel member. | US officials said that on 24 May 2011, Mr Arbabsiar made contact with an informant for the US Drug Enforcement Agency, who was posing as a Mexican drug cartel member. |
| Over a series of meetings, it is said that details emerged of a conspiracy involving members of the Iranian government paying $1.5m (£960,000) for the assassination of Saudi ambassador Adel al-Jubeir on US soil. | Over a series of meetings, it is said that details emerged of a conspiracy involving members of the Iranian government paying $1.5m (£960,000) for the assassination of Saudi ambassador Adel al-Jubeir on US soil. |
| Justice department officials said the initial envisaged target was the Saudi embassy. | Justice department officials said the initial envisaged target was the Saudi embassy. |
| But in conversations secretly recorded for the US authorities, Mr Arbabsiar also allegedly considered having the ambassador killed at a purported favourite restaurant, despite the possibility of mass casualties. | But in conversations secretly recorded for the US authorities, Mr Arbabsiar also allegedly considered having the ambassador killed at a purported favourite restaurant, despite the possibility of mass casualties. |
| The plot would have been carried out with explosives, Mr Holder said. But he added that no explosives were ever put in place and the public was not in danger. | The plot would have been carried out with explosives, Mr Holder said. But he added that no explosives were ever put in place and the public was not in danger. |
| Mr Holder said Mr Arbabsiar, with approval from Mr Shakuri, wired $100,000 to a US bank account for the informant as a down payment. | Mr Holder said Mr Arbabsiar, with approval from Mr Shakuri, wired $100,000 to a US bank account for the informant as a down payment. |
| Mr Arbabsiar and Mr Shakuri have been charged with conspiracy to murder a foreign official, weapons conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit international terrorism charges. | Mr Arbabsiar and Mr Shakuri have been charged with conspiracy to murder a foreign official, weapons conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit international terrorism charges. |
| Unnamed US officials also told journalists that the Israeli embassy in Washington was also to have been attacked. | Unnamed US officials also told journalists that the Israeli embassy in Washington was also to have been attacked. |
| Mr Arbabsiar appeared briefly at a New York City court on Tuesday. He did not enter a plea and was held without bail. | Mr Arbabsiar appeared briefly at a New York City court on Tuesday. He did not enter a plea and was held without bail. |
| He could face a life prison sentence if convicted on all charges, the Department of Justice said. | He could face a life prison sentence if convicted on all charges, the Department of Justice said. |