Arbabsiar pleads not guilty in US court

Islam Times: Mansour Arbabsiar, who was arrested at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on September 29, was arraigned on Monday, federal prosecutors said.

The 56-year-old used car dealer has been accused of attempting to get Mexican gangsters to kill Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Washington Adel al-Jubeir.

The US Department of Justice had claimed that Arbabsiar had waived his right to counsel and "confessed to his participation in the murder plot."

"The complaint also states that in the days since the defendant's arrest he has confessed to his participation in the alleged plot as well as provided other valuable information about the elements of the Iranian government's role in it," Attorney General Eric Holder said on Oct. 11.

However, Arbabsiar's plea of not guilty contradicts the earlier statement by the US attorney general that he had admitted to involvement in the alleged plot.

The US claims that Arbabsiar has links with Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. But Iranian authorities have strongly rejected the allegation, saying Washington has failed to substantiate its claims with any proof.

Iranian authorities said comments by Arbabsiar cannot be used as evidence due to his background.

The suspect is said to be a drug addict who fled Iran 30 years ago.

According to some friends in his community, Arbabsiar used marijuana, drank alcohol and had a reputation for being disorganized and absent-minded.

The suspect was arrested and charged with car theft in Texas in 2001.

Meanwhile, Iran's Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi said even the weakest intelligence agencies in the world would not hire a man with such a background and assign him to an operation on US soil.

Arbabsiar acquired US citizenship eight months ago after living in the country for three decades.

Moslehi said Arbabsiar cooperated with American intelligence agencies in return for his residency permit.

Iran has rejected the US allegations against the country as ridiculous and a pre-planned scenario to distract America public opinion from the ongoing protests across the country. Many observers and analysts in the US have also cast doubts on Washington's accusations against Tehran.