Clinton on Iranian Plot

 

QUESTION:  Let’s talk about the news of the day, this plot by some members of the Quds Force to take out the Saudi ambassador at a restaurant here in Washington.  How high does this go?  Do we know that the top levels of the Iranian Government were aware of this plot?

 

SECRETARY CLINTON:  Well, first let me add my word of congratulations to our law enforcement and intelligence professionals, who once again have proven their extraordinary professionalism and disrupting this plot, which was a major accomplishment.

 

We think that this was conceived and directed from Tehran.  We know that it goes to a certain level within the Quds Force, which is part of the Revolutionary Guard, which is the military wing of the Iranian Government.  And we know that this was in the making and there was a lot of communication between the defendants and others in Tehran.

 

So we’re going to let the evidence unfold, but the important point to make is that this just is in violation of international norms.  It is a state-sponsored act of terror, and the world needs to speak out strongly against it.

 

QUESTION:  It’s very brazen, as you mentioned, which suggests the Iranians didn’t particularly fear retaliation by the U.S.

 

SECRETARY CLINTON:  Well, I think it’s a little hard to tell what was really going on, why this was given a seal of approval, why there was a go-ahead from Tehran, whether within their military and their government the kinds of the debates and divisions that we are now watching unfold – because it’s difficult to know who is actually making the decisions.  Was this for political purposes?  Was this just a crazy idea that got out of hand?

 

QUESTION:  Do you think the ayatollah ordered it?