Britain Freezes Assets of 5 Iranians in Alleged Saudi Plot

Britain froze the assets of five Iranian men over the alleged plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the U.S. in a bomb attack.

Those affected include both men charged by the U.S. in the case: Manssor Arbabsiar, 56, and Gholam Shakuri, according to a statement released by the Treasury in London yesterday. The others were identified as Hamed Abdollahi, 51; Abdul Reza Shahlai, and Qasem Soleimani, 54. The Treasury said it was acting under the Terrorist Asset-Freezing Act 2010.

The U.S. Justice Department accused Iran on Oct. 11 of sponsoring a plot to assassinate the Saudi envoy, Adel Al- Jubeir, in Washington. The announcement has led to an escalation of tension between the two Persian Gulf nations, with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal saying Oct. 13 that the “dastardly act” reflects Iran’s policies and that his country will hold Iran “accountable for any action taken.”

In Washington, the Obama administration welcomed the U.K.’s announcement of sanctions. “This sends yet another message that the international community rejects this flagrant violation of international law,” White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said today in a statement.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters in Tehran today that the U.S. allegation is “baseless” and “aims to create a rift” between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the top two producers in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and regional rivals.

Conspiracy ChargeArbabsiar, a U.S. resident with dual U.S. and Iranian citizenship, conspired for several months in the murder-for-hire plot with Shakuri, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a criminal complaint unsealed Oct. 11.

Shakuri was a member of Iran#146;s Quds Force, the U.S. said in the complaint. Others from the Quds Force were also involved and helped bankroll the plot, which was to have cost $1.5 million, prosecutors said.

The U.S. State Department has described the Quds Force as an arm of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that conducts #147;covert operations abroad#148; and has sponsored attacks against U.S. coalition forces in Iraq.

Shakuri remains at large. Arbabsiar was arrested on Sept. 29 at New York#146;s John F. Kennedy International Airport as he got off a flight from Mexico. He is being held without bail.