United Nations: Saudi Arabia has asked UN
chief Ban Ki-moon to bring before the Security Council the
alleged Iranian plot to assassinate its ambassador to the
United States.
Saudi Arabia`s UN Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi
has "formally requested" in a letter to Ban that those
involved in "this outrageous attempt should be brought to
justice."
The Kingdom`s Permanent Mission to the UN asked Ban "to
bring to the attention of the Security Council the matter of
the heinous plot" to assassinate Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir,
the mission said here.
"The Mission reiterates that the attempted plot is a
violation of international laws, United Nations resolutions,
and all conventions and norms of humanity."
Al-Mouallimi did not specifically mention the kind
of action his government wants the Security Council to take.
He said the assassination plot is "a gross violation"
of international treaties including those in place to protect
diplomats.
"According to United States authorities, overwhelming
evidence leads to the conclusion that this plot was planned,
financed, and directed by elements working for or belonging to
the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
The US had last week charged two Iranian men for
conspiring in a plot to kill al-Jubeir.
Ban, currently in Geneva, told reporters that he has
received "correspondences" from the US, Iran as well as the
Saudi government.
He said he has conveyed the correspondences to the
Security Council for its consideration.
On whether sanctions are in the offing against Iran
in the wake of the assassination plot, Moon said he would not
be able to comment on it yet.
"I will have to see what the discussions will be at
the Security Council," he said.
Meanwhile State Department spokesperson Mark Toner
said in Washington that President Barack Obama as well as
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have "made a series of
calls" to key allies and partners to talk about the issue.
"We are still in that stage where we are having these
discussions. I think the President and others have said it is
really important that we hold Iran accountable and we are
going to continue as we move forward to discuss ways to do
that," Toner said.
In his letter sent to Ban last week, Iran`s
permanent representative to the UN Mohammad Khazaee expressed
his country`s "outrage" over the US allegations that its
government plotted to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador, saying
the US` claims are "politically-motivated" and an "evil plot"
given Washington`s animosity with Tehran.
PTI
