The Iranian-American man charged with plotting to whack a Saudi Arabian ambassador pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
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Manssor Arbabsiar, 56, who the feds say has links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard, appeared briefly at his arraignment in Manhattan Federal Court and said but two words.
“Not guilty,” was all Arbabsiar said as three members of the Saudi mission to the United Nations and a courtroom half-packed with reporters and court security officials looked on.
Arbabsiar and another man, Gholam Shakuri, are charged with planning to plant a bomb in a Washington D.C. restaurant in a plot to kill Ambassador Adel el-Jubeir.
Shakuri is still at large; he is believed to be in Iran.
The alleged plot has ratcheted up tensions between Iran and the United States, with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calling the charges a ruse aimed at causing a rift between Tehran and the Saudis.
The case is likely to produce an “extensive” amount of evidence and a trial that will likely last between 3 and 4 weeks, prosecutors said during the hearing before Judge John Keenan.
Arbabsiar’s defense lawyer declined comment.
The three Saudi diplomats didn’t offer much more:
“There’s nothing new,” said Farhan Al-Farhan, the Second Secretary to the mission who said he was there as an “advisor.”
“Our government obviously has an interest in this case,” he said.
Arbabsiar continues to be held without bail. His next court sate was set for December.
