U.S. agents disrupted an Iranian assassination-for-hire scheme targeting Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, U.S. officials said Tuesday. Elements of the Iranian government directed the alleged plan, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said. A naturalized U.S. citizen holding Iranian and U.S. passports and a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard face conspiracy charges connected with the plot. "In addition to holding these individual conspirators accountable for their alleged role in this plot, the United States is committed to holding Iran accountable for its actions," Holder said. A spokesman for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described the accusations as a "fabrication" by U.S. authorities attempting to distract American citizens.
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Iranian U.N. envoy: Iran "categorically rejects these fabricated and baseless allegations"
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Counterterrorism official: U.S. agents questioned the suspect for 12 days
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Holder says the alleged plan was directed by elements of the Iranian government
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Saudi Embassy: "The attempted plot is a despicable violation of international norms"
We expect the worst and we think @placeholder are capable of using any person from any country to stir trouble during hajj season," the Saudi adviser said.