DUBAI/ TEHRAN: Saudi Arabia has taken a first step to have Iran reported to the United Nations Security Council, a move that could lead to new sanctions, but Tehran dismissed allegations it plotted to kill a top Saudi envoy as a ploy to isolate it.
"Saudi Arabia's permanent mission to the United Nations formally requested the United Nations Secretary General notify the Security Council of the heinous conspiracy," the Asharq alAwsat newspaper reported, citing a statement from the kingdom's UN mission.
The United States on Tuesday said it had uncovered a plot by two men with links to Iran's security forces to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Adel alJubeir, by planting a bomb in a Washington restaurant.
(Read: “US foils ‘Iranian plot to bomb missions, murder Saudi envoy’”)
One of the men, who allegedly paid a US undercover agent posing as a Mexican drug cartel hitman to carry out the assassination, has been arrested while. The United States says the other is in Iran.
Iran's leadership says the allegation has been cynically engineered to further isolate Tehran, whose disputed nuclear programme has triggered several rounds of international sanctions against it.
(Read: “Rejoinder: Iran rejects US charge on terror plot”)
"All these pressures are aimed at stopping us from advancing," Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying on Sunday by the official IRNA news agency reported.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said the alleged plot was a "meaningless and nonsensical accusation".
(Read: “Assassination plot: Ayatollah Khamenei says US accusations 'absurd'”)
The Saudi step follows remarks by US President Barack Obama that he would press for "the toughest possible sanctions" against Iran over the alleged plot, and vowed not to take any options off the table, a phrase commonly used to mean the possibility of using force.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud alFaisal said on Wednesday in Vienna that Iran "was responsible" for the alleged plot and said Riyadh would adopt a "measured response".
Iran's Foreign Minister spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast said such "unfriendly" comments were based on US allegations for no which proof had been presented.
"The aim of this American-designed scenario is to hurt Iran's relations with its neighbours and it is wise not to make any hasty and unstudied comments," Mehmanparast was quoted as saying on Sunday by the labour news agency ILNA news agency.
Tensions between Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia have risen in recent months as Arab uprisings have altered the balance of power in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia earlier this month appeared to blame Iran, without naming it, for instigating clashes between members of the kingdom's Shia minority and security forces on Oct 3 in which 14 people were injured.
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@Ali: Don't do discrimnation on the basis of your belief and you dont have the right to call any one non-muslim.In bahrain its a legitimate struggle just like in kashmir and palestine which i think you will say as freedom fight.A ruling elite is depriving the majority of there rights and if they fighting for it then 'IRAN' comes into the picture for kashmir its not the case for Pakistan.Please dont decriminate on the basis of your belief brother say right as right wrong as wrong . I dont say iran has not done any thing wrong but i think they are not puppets of world power like saudi shaikhs.
It's like a 'Go, snatch!' kinda relationship between Suidi and the US.
This guy contacted an undercover DEA agent on several occasions - no doubt this transaction has been recorded - no doubt this guy will plead guilty in exchange for reduced sentence - no doubt the conspiracy theory anti American crowd who demand "evidence" will once again ignore the obvious and continue their rants.
@Hamid Javaid: Right. When the Muslim world fights among each other, beneficiaries are the non-muslim part of the world. Very wisely said.
Bakaou logs (Power Circle) avoid to get involved in another proxy war between Saudia and Iran. We have enough of these, and benefits will go to Super power. You would be utilized like shopping bags.
Iran never attacked any of its neighbors. I've never heard of an Iranian suicide bomber. Saudi Arabia on the other hand, let's see. Osama bin Laden was Saudi, 15 9/11 hijackers were Saudi, the number one source of funding for al-Qaeda NOW are the Saudis. I mean come on! Wake up and see what's really going on!
You guys act like Iran is a saint with no motives for dirty dealings. Be critical all you want but don't act like there aren't countries that actually do need to watch out for an Iranian knife in the back even if you believe you aren't one of them.
Saudia Arabia is a puppet on a string, dancing to the the tune of their Masters, These were the people who were begging the Americans to cut the head of the snake. What else can you expect out of them.
How could Saudi Arabia fall into the trap laid by USA? Cannot comprehend that Saudi Arabia is believing USA after all the revelations that have come up as to how USA maneuvres in order to achieve it's objectives of creating a conflict among Muslim states. Sad:( .