The doubts about the alleged plot by the Iranian Quds force to assassinate a Saudi ambassador keeps growing.
Iran now says that the number two person accused in the plot is an MEK agent.
Interpol has found new evidence showing that the number two suspect in connection with the alleged Iranian government’s involvement in a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington is a key member of the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), the Mehr News Agency has learnt.
Gholam Shakuri was last seen in Washington and Camp Ashraf in Iraq where MKO members are based.
The person in question has been travelling to different countries under the names of Ali Shakuri/Gholam Shakuri/Gholam-Hossein Shakuri by using fake passports including forged Iranian passports. One passport used by the person was issued on 30/11/2006 in Washington. The passport number was K10295631.
Interpol declined to comment on this which makes me wonder a bit. If this would be wrong why would Interpol not reject it?
Via Richard Silverstein we learn that there is some confirmation for Shakuri's ties to the MEK:
[I]n fact, a former high-ranking MEK leader, Massoud Khodabandeh (he has allowed me to use his name), writing in the Gulf2000 listserv, confirmed that Shakuri is in fact an MEK member.
(The Gulf2000 listserv is run by Iran scholar Gary Sicks and includes many Middle East scholars.)
The evidence is piling up that the whole plot was an intelligence operation against, not by, Iran.
This again makes me wonder why the administration is still sticking to its fairytale of an Iranian plot. Officially that tale is supposed to help convince other countries to agree on further sanctions, but it now has so many holes that I seriously doubt that it can be achieved.
Still the administration is pumping the scheme of a bumbling but at the same time seemingly almighty and "increasingly aggressive" Qods force:
"They're being more aggressive … not only in Iraq but worldwide," one senior U.S. official said in an interview.
…
U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters declined to provide details of the evidence that the Quds Force may have other plots in the works. But two officials stressed they were based on more than just speculation or analysis."These are not merely aspirational plots dreamed up by the Quds Force. In fact, there is active planning around them," a second senior U.S. official told Reuters. Both senior officials played down concerns any attack was imminent.
A third U.S. official said the recklessness of the alleged attempt to assassinate Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir in Washington suggested that Quds "may be involved in other actions."
Who do those anonymous "officials" want to convince with such a talk? No evidence, no explanation of motives and then the "analysis" that the alleged and likely false plot may be proof that further plots are in the making.
This is so obviously lowest level propaganda that even a Fox news viewer will be unlikely to fall for it. So, again, why is the Obama administration keeping this up?