EYE SPY INTELLIGENCE MAGAZINE 76 201128

Iranian plot to assassinate one of Saudi Arabia’s mostrevered diplomats is foiled as US intelligence and security

services counter an intricate international murder plot

merican-Iranian, Manssor Arbabsiar, 56, has been chargedwith plotting to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States. He was reportedly the “leading activeoperative” of an Iranian government-sponsored group createdand headed by Arbabsiar’s cousin, Abdul Reza Shahlai, asenior figure in the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).Shahlai’s ‘lieutenant’ in the plot has been named as Ali GholamA

ManssorArbabsiar

© N

UECE

S CO

UNTY

SHE

RIFF

DEP

T.

THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION’S○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Shakuri. Both men are members of the Quds Force, the oft-used operationalarm of the IRGC which is a particularly feared element and has direct ties toIranian Intelligence and the country’s senior leaders.

BACKGROUND TO AN INTENSE RELATIONSHIP

In recent years numerous ‘spy wars’ have been played out by intelligenceagencies on Iranian soil. The central objective has usually been to gleanintelligence on Tehran’s nuclear bomb programme. Using disruption operations,cyber attacks, assassinations and bait to lore key scientists away from thecountry, Iran has been under siege of late; add to this an aggressive media campaign often inspired by carefully placed journalists and, on a diplomaticfront, sanctions, then it comes as no surprise that the forces that be in Iran havedecided to launch a counter-offensive.

P28/29 1/11/11, 2:52 pm2