UK analyst : US plot claim out of character with Iran

US accusations of an Iran plot to kill the Saudi ambassador in Washington is out of character with behaviour of the country, itself a victim of terrorism, says British political analyst Peter Rushton. “One of the main problems with the present US allegations against Iran is their inherent lack of credibility in relation to the established record of Iranian conduct,” Ruston said.  “If we look back to the start of the so-called 'war on terror' in 2001, just two days before the still mysterious 9/11 attacks, the important Iranian ally Ahmad Shah Massoud, leader of the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan, was murdered by Al-Qaeda,” he said.  “Iranian interests have long been targeted by al-Qaeda, as well as by other terrorist groups promoted by powerful lobbies in Western capitals, notably the Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization,” he told IRNA in an interview.  In contrast to the long history of terrorist attacks suffered by Iran, Rushton said that there had been “no indications of Iranian involvement in terrorist movements operating within the US.”  FBI director Robert Mueller has already admitted that the alleged plot, involving a sting operation, Mexican drug cartels and government informants, sounded as if it came from a 'Hollywood script.'  The political analyst agreed with Mueller's description but said that “the days are long gone when Washington's Hollywood inventions would automatically be accepted by a compliant international audience.”  “It is unsurprising that the American authorities can obtain whatever statement they want from someone facing drug charges and a long term of imprisonment.”  “However it would be very surprising indeed if Iranian officials were found to be entering into such a bizarre conspiracy against a Saudi target,” he said.  Rushton also referred to history relating that 'terrorist' operations are the refuge of those who lack other means to protect themselves or advance their cause.  “Yet in respect of Saudi Arabia, the supposed target of this planned act of 'terrorism', the last year has seen a consistent pattern of Iranian diplomatic success and Saudi diplomatic and political crisis,” he said.  In this respect, the analyst referred to the case of Bahrain as the most obvious example, where the people were struggling to “free themselves from an autocratic monarchy propped up by their fellow autocrats in Saudi Arabia.”  “In Bahrain, Yemen and Egypt, the Saudi regime has been seen to be supporting yesterday's failed politics of repression and has felt threatened by the unexpectedly rapid development of the 'Arab Spring'.  “Which government needs a headline grabbing terrorist act to distract attention from unwelcome diplomatic failures: Iran or Saudi Arabia?” he asked.  In his interview with IRNA, Rushton also spoke of Western governments themselves being unable to set the agenda in the face of the Arab Spring. “Even in Libya, with NATO forces deployed, the political outcome is far from clear,” he said.  “Overshadowing every action of Western politicians is the economic crisis that makes another sustained military adventure unaffordable,” he said.  “This is why the Washington-London-Tel Aviv axis is looking not so much for a casus belli – since they know that conventional military action against Iran is not feasible – but for some means of ratcheting up pressure against Tehran and increase psychological warfare and attempted destabilisation,” the political analyst argued.  But referring to the scandal over the UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox, he suggested it was unfortunate for this axis that their activities in London received “unwelcome publicity at exactly the same time as Washington sought to set the agenda with the 'exposure' of this supposed 'terrorist plot'.”  “A network of sinister political operatives, among whose main aims was the destabilisation of Iran, has been exposed in London, where the Defense Minister himself has resigned in a belated effort to curtail further investigations,” Rushton said.  The scandal centers on Fox's close friendship Adam Werritty, who acted as an unofficial adviser funded by a web of Israeli financiers in London.  “He (Werritty) travelled to Iran to build connections with underground opposition activists – contradicting repeated claims by the British Government that there had been no British interference in Iranian politics,” Rushton said.  “For the moment the Fox-Werritty scandal has pushed the supposed 'terrorist plot' off the front pages, and it is unlikely that in this context London will be able to operate effectively in conjunction with any active anti-Iranian policy of its American/Zionist partners,” he believes.