Iran denounces US sentencing over Saudi envoy plot

Iranian-American sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to two conspiracy charges and a murder-for-hire count

In this courtroom sketch, Manssor Arbabsiar reads a statement Thursday, May 30, 2013, in Manhattan Federal Court, in New York (photo credit: AP/Elizabeth Williams)
In this courtroom sketch, Manssor Arbabsiar reads a statement Thursday, May 30, 2013, in Manhattan Federal Court, in New York (photo credit: AP/Elizabeth Williams)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s foreign ministry has denounced the U.S. for sentencing an Iranian-American to 25 years in prison over a plot to kill the Saudi envoy to Washington.

The reaction came a day after a New York court sentenced Iranian-born Manssor Arbabsiar, a former used car salesman from Texas, for plotting to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador by bombing a Washington restaurant.

Arbabsiar had pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges and a murder-for-hire count, saying he was directed by Iranian military officials to go to Mexico on multiple occasions in 2011 to arrange the assassination, which never occurred.

Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency on Friday quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araghchi as saying the charges against Arbabsiar were “ridiculous” and more like something out of a movie.

Araghchi claims Arbabsiar is “innocent.”

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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