Plot to Kill Americans Traced Back To Iran
- Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:23am by
Jason Howerton
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (file photo)
U.S. officials have linked a plot to kill Americans – including U.S. embassy officials – to Iran, The Washington Post reports.
The assassination plot was originally uncovered in November when officials at the U.S. embassy in the Central Asian country of Azerbaijan were made aware of the threat. However, many of the details were not made public.
Investigators from four different countries have been probing the plot for months. Now, new evidence has surfaced in recent weeks that ties the assassination attempts to either Hezbollah militants backed by Iran or operatives based in Iran, U.S. and Middle Eastern Security officials explained to WaPo.
An official report in March revealed that evidence compiled by investigators included phone records, forensic tests, coordinated travel arrangements and cellphone SIM cards bought by many of the would-be assassins, two officials who have seen the report said.
From the Washington Post report:
The plot had two strands, U.S. officials learned, one involving snipers with silencer-equipped rifles and the other a car bomb, apparently intended to kill embassy employees or members of their families.
Both strands could be traced back to the same place, the officials were told: Azerbaijan’s southern neighbor, Iran.
Precisely who ordered the hits, and why, was never conclusively determined. But U.S. and Middle Eastern officials now see the attempts as part of a broader campaign by Iran-linked operatives to kill foreign diplomats in at least seven countries over a span of 13 months. The targets have included two Saudi officials, a half-dozen Israelis and — in the Azerbaijan case — several Americans, the officials say.
Iran has certainly made no efforts to disguise its deep-seated hatred for the United States, however, should it be determined the country’s government was involved in the assassination plots, it could cause further damage to already strained relations between the U.S. and Iran.
“The idea that Iran and Hezbollah might have worked together on these attempts is possible,” a senior U.S. official who has studied the evidence explained to The Washington Post. “But this conclusion is not definitive.”
The report claims a foreign spy agency was able to intercept electronic messages seemingly describing plans to smuggle weapons and explosives from Iran into Azerbaijan. Messages were linked to an Azerbaijani national, Balagardash Dashdev, who has a long criminal history and ties to intelligence networks and militant groups in Iran.
(Related: Feds Foil Massive Iran-Linked Terror Plot on U.S. Soil)
WaPo explains that some experts argue that a covert war is actually being waged between the United States and Iran.
So far, four scientists involved in Iran’s nuclear program have been killed by unidentified assassins in the past three years. Further, the county’s websites have been hit by a barrage of cyberattacks. Iran has accused the U.S. of taking out their nuclear scientists but continue to deny any involvement in assassination plots involving foreign diplomats.
Iranians carry the coffin of Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, a chemistry expert and a director of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran, who was killed in a brazen daylight assassination when two assailants on a motorcycle attached a magnetic bomb to his car in Tehran. (AP Photo/Mehr News Agency, Mojtaba Heidari)
But officials said the Iran-linked attempts stopped abruptly in the spring after the nation agreed to resume negotiations regarding its nuclear program with six world powers, including America, according to the report.
“There appears to have been a deliberate attempt to calm things down ahead of the talks,” a Western diplomat briefed on the plots told The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the intelligence. “What happens if the talks fail — that’s anyone’s guess.”
President Obama has not directly accused Iran’s government of being involved in the Azerbaijan plot.
While the evidence doesn’t prove with certainty that the Iranian government was involved in the attempt, some say the regime’s consistent pattern of reckless behavior should not be ignored.
“There is not yet a smoking gun,” a Western diplomat briefed on the evidence told The Washington Post. “But the pattern is clear, and each day the volume of evidence grows.”
Iran in a statement denied any involvement in the Azerbaijan plot and suggested the plot was made up by the “Zionists.”
“We believe that the glorious people of Azerbaijan understand that this part of the script of Iranophobia and Islamophobia is organized by the Zionists and the United States,” the statement said.
Read all of WaPo’s analysis here.
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Comments (58)
OverFiend
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:49pmMove along nothing to see here ..We’ll do nothing about this as always accecpt sit on our hands.
Report Post »Attila_the_Hunney
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:39pm“Plot to Kill Americans Traced Back To Iran.” You’re Kidding….
Report Post »dianna9490
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:23pmBring IT ON – AMERICANS ARE FED UP WITH THE THREATS! Bring it on and LET’S GET THIS CRAP OVER WITH! Quite honestly I am sick of so many people that TAKE OUR MONEY BUT THINK AMERICA IS BAD! I DON’T WANT MY TAX DOLLARS GOING TO THIS COUNTRY! DOES ANY OTHER AMERICAN?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:06pmJust remember all the lies we swallowed before we went into Iraq. We’ve already seen that their call to “wipe Israel off the map” was a false translation. Keep in mind it’s the same people saying the same crap. Now, if they start something… Yeah we F ‘em up, but I’m fairly confident, based on past lies, they won’t. I don‘t believe they’re that stupid.
Report Post »kat747
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:05pmDo any of you remember the news clips of the people of Iran dancing in the streets celebrating September 11, 2001 ? Aren’t there a couple of nukes in storage that the USA could get rid of ?
Report Post »Iran wants nukes so badly, let’s give them a couple.
justangry
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:13pmThere are also pro Western Iranians we ignored when they rose up against their leadership. I believe we can win with ideas. It’s at least worth a shot. Open back up trade and flood them with Western influence. Freedom and individualism are appealing to a lot of people. It would take a lot of time and patience, but the outcome would be better and it wouldn’t push us further to the brink financially. They don’t have the capability to attack us head on, so we could afford not to rush into another war against Muslims.
Report Post »KidCharlemagne
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:07pmkat747
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:05pm
Iran wants nukes so badly, let’s give them a couple.
=======================================
Strangely enough, that’s exactly what Dick Cheney and President Ford said back in 1975:
————————————————————————————–
Report Post »“The Ford administration — in which Cheney succeeded Rumsfeld as chief of staff and Wolfowitz was responsible for nonproliferation issues at the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency — continued intense efforts to supply Iran with U.S. nuclear technology until President Jimmy Carter succeeded Ford in 1977.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3983-2005Mar26.html
honkytonkman
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 5:00pmWe are going to eventually find out who’s will is stronger…………..Allah‘s or Uncle Sam’s
Report Post »v15
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 4:41pmIf anyone saw the movie “Act of Valor,’ where suicide bombers were helped into the country by Mexican drug cartels, then that’s something that I could believe will happen one day. The question is will something like this happen when Israel destroys Iran’s nuclear facilities this fall? Hopefully not.
Report Post »Small World
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 4:14pmWhat a surprise Iran wants to kill us.
Report Post »Couyon64
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 4:04pmSoon Iran will be bombed back to the stone age.
Report Post »ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 4:22pmDon’t hold your breath. With BO in office all I can see is more bending and putting your ass in the air.
Report Post »Evil_Conservative
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:12amyou mean “should” be bombed back to the stone age.
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 2:29pmstill no one gets this.. MURDERING MUSLUMS care NOT whom they kill save that they kill. they are ina cult of hate n death they will rape steal kill women children elderly even kill thier own offspring. there IS no heaven only HELL awaits all muslums thier god a false stone idol thier so calle dporphet DEAD N BURRIED.. thier own clergy dont follow the rules they make up NEW ONES.. .. they are MURDERING MUSLUMS
Report Post »vinnymac46
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:58amOf course it does….then when we’re done with Iran, N. Korea will get the blame for 99.9% of the worlds problems. Obalama is reaching with this one, IRAN has been trying to kill AMERICANS for the last 20+ years, and your news is NOW supposed to be a revealation of something new, idiots.
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 1:13pmIran has been trying to kill Americans for over 20+ years?
Really? Do you have any references to substantiate your claim?
They must not be very good at what they do, because I can’t recall any deaths from Iranians in the past two decades.
Report Post »Joshua7
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:54amI wonder how many nuclear attacks it would take before the Ron Paul nuts would admit that they were wrong?
I‘ll just pray that we don’t get that far.
Report Post »KidCharlemagne
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 11:04amJoshua7
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:54am
I wonder how many nuclear attacks it would take before the Ron Paul nuts would admit that they were wrong?
==========================
They’re not wrong though:
“Imminent Iran nuclear threat? A timeline of warnings since 1979″
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 1:19pmI wonder how much freedom ******** and neocons will give up before they realize they were wrong.
I just fear that they will never wake up.
“Get on the Trains. the Russians are coming for you. We will take you to a safe place with prosperity for all “
Report Post »AUsername
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:32amWar Propaganda on Memorials Day, you Neo Con bastards make me sick, you ******** hate the troops.
Report Post »AUsername
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:58amour troops should not have to fight and die for Israel, they should only risk their lives for our country and only for defense.
Report Post »BenzinVasser
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 2:03pmI agree, we’ve been used by every country out there. Let them fend for themselves and see how much they hate us then…Remove every troop from every country and barricade ours..Pre-WW2. Lets see how long it takes before they come begging for our help. Let them all rot in their worthlessness. I bet the world would look a lot different a few years from now, but our children wouldn‘t be dying anymore for people who don’t appreciate it, or lift a hand to help….No wonder our economy sucks, we’re left holding the bill for everything in the world. It has to stop. Screw the rest of the world and fix our country. Get the Marxists out and teach the constitution again as the rule of law.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:20pmWell, I don‘t understand how you say we’ve been fighting wars for Israel, but agree with most of your statement. I really didn’t want to hear the war drums today. It would be nice if, on this Memorial Day, we could start a movement to ensure that our military never again fights another war for any other reason than to protect freedom and our Constitution.
Report Post »BO_Bill
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:30amProvocative Neo-Con garbage.
Report Post »Evil_Conservative
Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:14amis it hard to breathe with your head that far under the sand?
Report Post »South Philly Boy
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:55amSo what ELSE is NEW
Report Post »JRook
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:13amConsidering all the interest in manufacturing, distributing, promoting and reinforcing “conspiracies” by GB, the blaze and the angry mob here. No one sees an the unlikely coincidence between the announced draw down and withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the frequency of reports regarding how bad and dangerous Iran is. As though they were good and upstanding world citizens anytime in the last 50 years. The US war machine is alive and well and will perpetuate itself with a constant flow of perceived villains. Propaganda is one of the strongest tools of marketing.
Report Post »recoveringneocon
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:21amCIA has been busy I see.
Report Post »techengineer11
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:45amI wonder if this for payback for Israel and the US assassinating all of their scientist? Why is just fine for the Israeli dogs and their bootlickers in DC to murder but if someone else seeks to get even they are evil?
That makes a lot of sense to me.
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 10:11amThis Story is BS.
The “Report Claims” and An official reports reveals”.
Didn’t a “Special Report” reveal Weapons of mass Deception in IRAQ???
This is an excuse to attack IRAN. Lets use our full military might in IRAN for 10 years, killing Patriots and innocent civilians.
The Military Industrial Complex has the audacity to label these patriotic insurgents “Taliban”.
The 19 Saudia Arabians Attacked our “Country” ( A few buildings ) because we had set up Military bases in SAUDIA ARABIA !!!!!
NATO is attacking all the Countries that won’t play ball with the U.N.
Either Join this One World Government or pay the Price !!!!!!!
I believe nothing that comes from this corrupt administration, or their MSM.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:15amObama reminds me so much of Bill Clinton it’s not funny. Clinton’s “Nation Building” {aka throw $ at those that hate us and hope they will like-on his FB page no doubt-and then express confusion when those that hate us try to kill us} Whew, apologies for the run on sentence…
Bill Clinton’s Policies DIRECTLY set us up for 9/11.
Report Post »blkbelt7
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:31amCarter blew it in 1979….a simple call telling Iran if they don’t release the hostages, we start dropping “daisy cutter” all over Tehran…but the gutless carter in his typical way of dealing with things wanted to “talk” to Iran…but the day Reagan took office things changed….Peace through Power, not appeasement through apology
Report Post »KidCharlemagne
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:41amblkbelt7
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:31am
but the day Reagan took office things changed….
==========================================
They sure did!!:
———————————————————–
The Iran-Contra Affair
According to the Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair issued in November 1987, the sale of U.S. arms to Iran through Israel began in the summer of 1985, after receiving the approval of President Reagan. The report shows that Israel’s involvement was stimulated by separate overtures in 1985 from Iranian arms merchant Manucher Ghorbanifar and National Security Council (NSC) consultant Michael Ledeen, the latter working for National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane. When Ledeen asked Prime Minister Shimon Peres for assistance, the Israeli leader agreed to sell weapons to Iran at America’s behest, providing the sale had high-level U.S. approval.
Before the Israelis would participate, says the report, they demanded “a clear, express and binding consent by the U.S. Government.” McFarlane told the Congressional committee he first received President Reagan’s approval in July 1985. In August, Reagan again orally authorized the first sale of weapons to Iran, over the objections of Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and Secretary of State George Shultz.
Report Post »http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/Iran_Contra_Affair.html
bmel
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:11amObama will only respond to anything if it’ll get him votes.He‘ll not do much if it isn’t in his political interest.How many people were consulted before ANY of his moves? I should say his direction because he never actually works up a sweat or isn,t even up until around 9 each morning.Then you have that first 9 holes to consider also.
Report Post »PETTYDRAMA
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:05amBoy. you right wing “christian”wackos really love war dont you. You religious nuts are the cause of most of the worlds problems.
Report Post »Charbet
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:10amReally??? Hmmm, yeah, Christians are out stoning Muslims daily. Dolt.
Report Post »caljoe2
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:37amSo you would prefer Iran continued unabated in destabilizing the middle east? You have no problems allowing them to get nuclear weapons? The spread of their radical ideology does not faze you?
Of course those of you on the Left probably don’t see these facts about Iran because it has no room in your idealistic liberal fantasy world where reality is not allowed to intrude. All I can say is good luck with that philosophy considering that reality has a habit of jumping up and biting you in the azz while you have your head buried in the sand. :)
Report Post »TheWholeTruth
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:03amSo you would prefer Iran continued unabated in destabilizing the middle east? ///How many countries is Iran involved in? How many are WE?/// You have no problems allowing them to get nuclear weapons?///Even the DoD & IAEA says they are NOT trying to get nukes./// The spread of their radical ideology does not faze you?/// 25k Jews live in Iran unfettered along with Christians.///
Of course those of you HERE probably don’t see these facts about Iran because it has no room in your idealistic fantasy world where reality is not allowed to intrude. All I can say is good luck with that philosophy considering that reality has a habit of jumping up and biting you in the azz while you have your head buried in the sand. :)
Judaism and Zionism are TWO DIFFERENT ideologies. PLEASE for the love of mankind, EDUCATE yourselves.
Report Post »caljoe2
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:17am‘Judaism and Zionism are TWO DIFFERENT ideologies. PLEASE for the love of mankind, EDUCATE yourselves.’
And this has exactly what to do with my comment? PLEASE for the love of mankind, keep it on topic. :)
Report Post »caljoe2
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 9:33am‘Even the DoD & IAEA says they are NOT trying to get nukes’
————————————
Wasn‘t really going to comment on your supposed truth but figured I couldn’t let this comment on the IAEA pass by.
‘While the United Nations agency verified that Tehran hasn’t diverted its declared nuclear material for weapons use, the inspectors reiterated past statements that they can’t give assurances that Iran isn’t concealing nuclear activities.’
http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=271626
And before you claim bias by this site this stance by the IAEA can be found at multiple sources with just a simple google search. So tell me how that stance equates to Iran not trying to get nukes? It doesn’t.
Report Post »jackwrench
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:40amPlot to Kill Americans Traced Back To Iran which is then traced back to Washington D.C.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:02amtraced back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:12amThis is yet one more round of Obamas failed “Wag the Dog” production.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:39amSNOW …… sums it up
Report Post »caljoe2
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:59amI see that the economic sanctions are working wonders with Iran. :)
They are working so well we have Iran not only totally ignoring US and international pressure on its nuclear program but they are now threatening to build 2 new reactors as well as further enrichment of their fissionable material. They are working so well we have assassination and terrorist plots both abroad and on US soil popping up left and right. The sponsoring, if not in some cases of outright providing of manpower, of terrorist groups in the surrounding countries all in an effort to destabilize the countries and the region are another indication of how well economic sanctions work.
You would think that after 33 years worth of administrations and their failed attempts to control Iran through sanctions that at some point our government would get a clue.
Report Post »lisalake
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:11amOh, they have a clue…. just their lame attempt at “never let a crisis go to waste”…. who thinks we’ll be bombing before November???
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:29amLisaLake
Report Post »I do!! We may be in WW III by November.
caljoe2
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:03am@lisalake & ramonpreston
Israel may very well be bombing before the elections but don’t expect the US to be. Obama is in reelection mode where policy revolves around what is best for his chances to get reelected. With that in mind it has been obvious for some time now that he is trying to defer the issue of Iran until after the elections even to the detriment of the US and world community. I think the only way we see this strategy change is if it is looking desperate for his reelection, then all bets are off and I can see them radically switching their position.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:57amNo one expects obama to understand foreign policy…but Hillary fully understands Iran. The only difference now, and when she and Bill were president, is that Iran is closer to…or has…nuclear weapons capability. Just as Iran is helping Syria, Russia is ..and has been for decades…helping and funding Iran. Hillary knows all this…but obama is going to let Putin “use America” while Russia and Iran continue their plan to destroy Israel and the U.S. Putin, the dictator, will not play games with the West. He is determiined to rebuild the Soviet Empire and he is using the Arab countries to achieve this. obama‘s ’bending’ to Putin is putting the U.S. in more danger.
Report Post »gooeylewie
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 7:49amand by what metric are you using to say that Hilary understands foreign policy?
I do not understand where this idea of “experience” comes from!
She is SOS, Obama’s foreign follicy (yes, with an f) has been abysmal and will ultimately cost American lives. Seems to me that her “experience” and “understanding” should disqualify her from any further office. Results, not intent!
But the rest you are correct on!
Report Post »seanscythe
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:47amI don’t see Obama hopping onto Airforce 1 to go bow to president ackmydicissmall.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:35amSeems I’ve heard this before. It‘s kind of insulting they’re not even trying to be creative with their war propaganda. I guess if it worked once, eh?
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 8:07amThe evidence is that a criminal was trying to buy some guns covertly.
Organized crime gun running is not a state sponsored terror plot.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 12:24pmMBE – You could replace ‘a criminal’ with Eric Holder. Nobody here would be mad at you.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on May 28, 2012 at 6:31amWhat are you waiting for mr president?
Report Post »