New evidence of Iranian plot to kill foreign diplomats: Report

, May 28: Intelligence agencies of four countries have uncovered new evidence of an alleged campaign run by the

-linked operatives to kill foreign

in at least seven countries, including India, in the past 13 months, a media report said on Monday.

Referring to the investigations carried out by intelligence agencies of several countries, The Washington Post said: "US and Middle Eastern officials now see the attempts as part of a broader campaign by Iran-linked operatives to kill foreign diplomats in at least seven countries over a span of 13 months". These countries, according to the daily, include besides the US, Azerbaijan, India, Turkey, Thailand, Pakistan and Georgia. In the US, authorities foiled assassination attempt on the Saudi Ambassador in Washington, while in Azerbaijan security agencies early this year made a series of arrest to foil a bid to kill American diplomats.

In India, there was an attempt to kill an Israeli diplomat earlier this year. Israeli and Indian officials have described substantial Iranian links to a car bombing in February that seriously wounded the wife of an Israeli diplomat in New Delhi, the daily said. "In recent weeks, investigators working in four countries have amassed new evidence tying the disparate assassination attempts to one another and linking all of them to either Iran-backed Hezbollah militants or operatives based inside Iran, according to US and Middle Eastern security officials," the daily added.

An official report last month summarising the evidence cited phone records, forensic tests, coordinated travel arrangements and even cellphone SIM cards purchased in Iran and used by several of the would-be assailants, said two officials who have seen the six-page document, the daily said.

However, the newspaper said that the alleged attempts seem to be halted as Iran began to shift its tone after weeks of bellicose anti-Western rhetoric and threats to shut down vital shipping lanes. In March, Iranian officials formally accepted a proposal to resume negotiations with six world powers on proposals to curb its nuclear programme. "There appears to have been a deliberate attempt to calm things down ahead of the talks," a Western diplomat briefed on the assassination plots, was quoted as saying. "What happens if the talks fail is anyone's guess," the official said.

PTI