POTUS Says Iranian Government Will See Consequences

Iranian Government Denies Assassination Plot

The U.S. has had “direct contact” with Iran in passing days since details accusing the Iranian government of plotting to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador in the country surfaced Tuesday.

In a press conference, Obama spoke on the matter reiterating previous remarks made by Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that there “will be consequences” for the Iran.

Said Obama: "This is just one example of a series of steps that they've [Iranian government] taken to create violence and to behave in a way that you don't see other countries doing.”

"This plot was not simply directed at the United States of America. This was a plot that was directed against the Saudi ambassador. And I think that what you're going to see is folks throughout the Middle East region questioning their ability to work effectively with Iran,’ he added.

Iran has denied the allegation.

As reported by CNN:

A Tuesday letter from Iran's permanent U.N. representative to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed "outrage" over the allegation and said the country "strongly and categorically rejects these fabricated and baseless allegations, based on the suspicious claims by an individual. Any country could accuse other countries through fabrication of such stories. However, this would set dangerous precedents in the relations among States."

Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee, Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations, wrote Ban that Iran condemns and has been a victim of terrorism, citing "the assassination of a number of Iranian nuclear scientists in the past two years carried out by the Zionist regime and supported by the United States."

He called the U.S. move "politically motivated" and a "showcase of its long-standing animosity towards the Iranian nation."

Obama said Attorney General Eric Holder "laid out a very specific set of facts" and the United States would not have brought the case forward if it weren't able to back up the allegations.

"What we know is that an individual of Iranian-American descent was involved in a plot to assassinate the ambassador to the United States from Saudi Arabia," Obama said. "And we also know that he had direct links, was paid by and directed by individuals in the Iranian government. Now, those facts are there for all to see."

The complaint filed on Tuesday said one of the men being charged, Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old U.S. citizen, confessed to being involved in the plot.