(Image Source: The White House)
 

BY JENNIFER LONG

ANCHOR EMILY SPAIN
 

The newest chapter in the Iranian murder mystery plot unfolds. Vice President Joe Biden responds to the failed attempt to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States on Good Morning America.

“Unite the whole world in the moral disapprobation of the Iranian actions so that ... That it's not United States versus Iran, that the isolation of Iran and the attempt to change the behavior is universal not just with us.”

Two men have been charged with the alleged murder-for-hire plot. The plan involved paying a Mexican drug cartel to assassinate Suadi ambassador Adel alJubeir by bombing a restaurant in Washington. The U.S. says the Iranian government is behind the conspiracy. Iran says no way.  

The Washington Post quotes an expert on Iranian affairs who agrees with the administration saying...

“... it is definitely from the top; $1.3 million is not by any means a ‘frugal’ amount of money, and it indicates that it has to do with the regime.”

So where’s the beef? NBC News terrorism analyst Evan Kohlmann says if the U.S. government plans to unite the world against Iran, there’s gotta be more proof.

“Iran often charges the U.S. with fabricating facts and I think it’s up to the U.S. now, particularly the justice department to prove its allegations. I mean we need to prove these allegations and we need to show countries like Russia and china on the Security Council that have been reticent to put more sanctions on Iran, reticent to take more aggressive action against Iran that this is not a conspiracy, this is not just a joke.”

So what’s the next step for the United States? A blogger for The Telegraph says...

“...Mr. Obama has sought to pursue a policy of reconciliation with Iran, in the hope that the regime can be persuaded to renounce its illegal nuclear programme. And this is the thanks he gets – a plot to carry out terrorist attacks on the American mainland. The president should accept that Iran is a sworn enemy of the US – and act accordingly.”

A Huffington Post blogger says this is what it calls a “come to Jesus” moment. It argues that...

“...given the history and politics involved, all signs are pointing in the wrong direction. It is often forgotten that in crises like this, it takes greater courage to stand for restraint and de-escalation than to opt for war and confrontation.”

A blogger for CNN says despite any uncertainties the U.S. needs to take action. He say...

“....the principle must be that such acts are intolerable. If this plot had succeeded, the necessary reaction would be much greater, but in the face of its failure we cannot shrug it off or turn it into a diplomatic issue - or we encourage the perpetrators to try again.”