Some Preliminary Questions about the Alleged Iranian Terror Plot

Update: I was interviewed on FAIR’s Counterspin radio show about this on October 13. I come in around the 15 minute mark.

Earlier today the FBI issued a press release stating that two Iranian men have been criminally charged in a New York court for allegedly plotting to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir. Here are some examples of how the U.S. mainstream media initially headlined the story:

ABC News: Iran ‘Directed’ Washington, D.C., Terror Plot, U.S. Says

New York Times: U.S. Accuses Iranians of Plotting to Kill Saudi Envoy

Washington Post: Iran behind alleged terrorist plot, U.S. says

So from the looks of things, Iran has been planning a terrorist plot on U.S. soil, right? Wrong, at least for now that is. There are many holes in this story that need to be filled before the government of Iran can be credibly accused of committing what could be interpreted as an act of war. For a summary of related events so far, read Jim Lobe’s report, and following are some preliminary questions that need answering:

1) Who has the authority to operate on behalf of the Iranian government?

If a relative of a member of the U.S. military or CIA plans a murder on foreign soil and claims he was ordered to even though the U.S. denies it, would we consider that a terrorist plot by the U.S.?

The accused named in the FBI press release are Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old Iranian-American from Texas with dual citizenship, and Gholam Shakuri, an alleged Iran-based member of Iran’s secretive Quds Force. What does the U.S. have that proves they were acting on behalf of the Iranian government, which, by the way, quickly denied the charges?

2) Who approached who first?

If Arbabsiar approached the agent first, how did he find them? If the FBI put Arbabsiar under surveillance for suspicious activities and then lured him into direct communication (which could have been the initial point of contact), was the FBI involved in other persuasive activities as well? Considering the loony aspects of this story which even Hillary Clinton has alluded to, is it wrong to question the sanity of Arbabsiar? Is it unfathomable that the FBI could have found a crazy and/or impressionable person who was acting on his own accord but was in some way related to elements of the Iranian government?

3) What are the exact details of Arbabsiar’s confession and under what conditions was it made?

4) While in FBI custody, Arbabsiar made calls to his “cousin” in Iran who is allegedly a “big general” in the Iranian army and a “senior member of the Qods Force”. How did the FBI verify his cousin’s identity?

Did the cousin verify his identity on the phone? If yes, why would he do that if they knew one another? Would the alleged cousin really have been that imprudent while speaking to someone that he was planning an assassination plot with?

5) Why is the “cousin” unnamed?

6) Why would a government that is constantly accused of conniving to build nuclear weapons so that it can allegedly wreak destruction upon its adversaries attempt to assassinate someone as insignificant as the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. in such a poorly conducted plot and with the use of such low-level assailants?

While nothing is impossible, Iran has shown its capabilities in Lebanon and Iraq and this plot is not its style. You would think that after surviving for 32 years with the most powerful countries in the world against it, the leaders of the Islamic Republic would have learned a few things about carrying out high-risk operations with diligence and maximum impact — clearly not the case here.

7) What could Iran gain from this plot?

Certainly tensions have increased between Iran and Saudi Arabia over the past year, but Iran has been battling the Saudis in other ways, by exerting influence over Iraq’s government, for example. As Jim Lobe points out, if this plot is really Iran’s doing, it will only lead to more strangling sanctions and bring the threat of war closer. Unless you are among the misguided group of people who think that Iran’s current government is suicidal, taking part in an event like this is simply not in Iran’s interest.

8) What can Iran lose from this plot?

As Lobe and Josh Rogin have pointed out, Iran hawks are having a field day with this story. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) immediately called for the U.S. to collapse Iran’s central bank and unsigned opinion pieces are urging further action (what comes after sanctions?) against the Iranian “threat.” This story was also broken on the same day that further OFAC sanctions were announced, with more on the way.

I am not doubting that suspicious and worrisome events took place with regard to Arbabsiar or that Iran has animosity towards Saudi Arabia and the U.S. and vice versa (recall Saudi Arabia urging the U.S. to bomb Iran), but do we really have enough evidence to claim that the government of Iran directly attempted to carry out an assassination plot on U.S. soil? That’s a serious, game-changing charge. Even if you don’t want to accept Iran’s official denial, you need to produce more facts before you can make that case. It remains to be seen whether the mainstream media will do its job and provide us with them.

Jasmin Ramsey

Jasmin Ramsey is a journalist based in Washington, DC.

SHOW 5 COMMENTS

5 Comments

  1. You are a disgusting regime apologist, the likes of you, Reza Aslan, Houman Magd, and Trita Parsi make me sick. Remember the basij in the suit and tie is more dangerous then the basij on the street.

  2. This appears to be an attempt by the FBI to gauge the stupidity of the American people. As it stands now, the media will swallow anything–absolutely anything–hook, line and sinker. And it looks like a huge swaths of the American people will, too.

    As a result, we can look forward to a series of “terrorist” attacks, each more outrageous and implausible than the previous.

  3. Thank you Jasmin
    And I’m with you JohnH, especially since Obama needs to look good for upcoming elections and other than saying he’s protecting us from evildoers, what else can he talk about? The economy? Ha! I expect more of this bs in the next months, he’s such a disappointment. I’ll never forget that speech in Cairo, I was elated to hear him, and now??? A sell-out!! I don’t believe anything the Gov’t says any more. I love my country, I hate my Gov’t!

  4. I’m wondering what Jon is thinkinking. He’s dismissed the sabre rattling, and I’ve been inclined to agree. This really seems to ratchet things up. Paint me skeptical.

  5. It reminds me of all the lies about Iraq.I still remember them accusing Sadam of plotting to assasinate George Bush during his visit to Kuwait and the big lie about weapons of massdestruction.It is a shame for such a great country as the USA to spread those false accusations .

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