The Iranian regime has lashed out at the United States over the Obama administration’s claims that Tehran was behind a plot to attack U.S., Saudi and Israeli targets in Washington and Argentina. The following are key quotes from top leaders in Iran.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
"If U.S. officials have some delusions, (they must) know that any unsuitable act, whether political or security, will meet a resolute response from the Iranian nation…
“By attributing an absurd and meaningless accusation to a few Iranians, they tried ... to show that Iran is a supporter of terrorism. ... This conspiracy didn't work and won't work."
October 16, 2011, State Television
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president
"Iran is a civilized nation and doesn't need to resort to assassination… The culture of terror belongs to you [the United States].
October 16, 2011, IRNA
Ali Akbar Salehi, foreign minister
“Americans are trying to divert attention through fabricating such scenarios because their country is faced with many internal problems. These days we are observing a wave of popular demonstrations against the U.S. government’s policies, a rise in poverty, and the descending graph of the U.S. economy.”
“They will be compelled to apologize to Iran”
October 12, 2011, Tehran Times
Mohammad Khazaii, ambassador to the United Nations
“The Iranian nation is seeking a world without terrorism and regards the current American warmongers and their propaganda machine against Iran not only as a threat against themselves but also as a threat to the peace and stability,”
October 12, 2011, Tehran Times
Ali Ahani, deputy foreign minister
“The absurd and conspiratorial scenario was made so immaturely that even political circles and media of the US and its allies were suspicious about it”
October 12, 2011, IRNA
Ali Larijani, Iranian Majlis speaker
“The US has one by one lost its allies during the revolutions in the region (Middle East), and is resorting to such scenarios and seditious [strategies] to divert attention from its failures…”
October 13, 2011, Press TV
Ramin Mehmanparast, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman
"The false claim that (Iran) has plotted to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador has no basis in fact.”
“Such outmoded behaviors are based on old hostile American-Zionist policies and can be regarded as a ridiculous farce and (an attempt) by the enemies of Islam and the region to fabricate scenarios with the aim of provoking division.”
October 11, 2011, Mehr News