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The United States Ambassador to South Africa, Lana Marks.
Larry Busacca, Getty Images via AFP
- The Islamic Republic of Iran was reportedly considering a plot to assassinate the US ambassador to South Africa, Lana Marks.
- In a statement, Iran dismissed the report, calling the accusations unfounded.
- South Africa‘The State Security Agency said it had interacted with all relevant partners, both at home and abroad, to ensure that the diplomat was not harmed.
Following reports of an alleged plot to assassinate the United States Ambassador to South Africa, Lana Mark, the State Security Agency (SSA) said it had interacted with all relevant partners, both at home and abroad, to ensure that the diplomat was not harmed.
News24 previously reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran was said to be considering a plan to kill Marks.
This, according to Politico, which reported that US officials were aware of a threat against her in apparent retaliation for the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by the United States in January 2020.
Soleimani’s killing with a drone was intended to deter Iranian aggression, the US State Department claimed at the time.
The SSA said in a statement that it had taken note of the reports about the alleged assassination plot and the growing public interest in the matter.
READ | US Claims Iran is Plotting to Kill South African Ambassador Lana Marks
He added that he would like to assure all South African citizens and stakeholders that the matter was receiving the necessary attention.
“The agency is interacting with all relevant partners, both at home and abroad, to ensure that the US ambassador is not harmed, including other diplomatic officials within the borders of our country,” said the spokeswoman for the SSA, Mava Scott.
State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said South Africa has a duty to protect all diplomatic officials who are in state service in the country.
“It should be noted that the nature of the allegation and the concomitant threat does not allow us to provide detailed updates on the investigations,” Scott added.
“Reports will be provided to all relevant authorities, including the president of the republic, the minister of international relations and cooperation, and relevant officials of the United States administration.”
Iran dismisses assassination plan
Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, Islamic Republic of Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh dismissed the report from the US-based media house.
He described it as “personalized, biased and determined.”
“We advise American officials to stop resorting to hackneyed and worn-out methods of anti-Iran propaganda in the international arena,” Khatibzadeh said.
“As a responsible member of the international community, the Islamic Republic of Iran has demonstrated its consistent commitment to international diplomatic principles and standards.”
He said:
“On the contrary, it is the United States and the current White House regime that has ignored basic diplomatic principles and has become a rogue regime in the international arena, particularly in recent years, with numerous measures that do not are in accordance with internationally accepted methods and standards, including master planning and implementation of dozens of plots for assassination and military and intelligence interference, withdrawal of many international agreements, violation of the territorial integrity of nations and the cowardly assassination of General Qassem Soleimani “.
Khatibzadeh called the allegations part of US President Donald Trump’s counterintelligence campaign against Iran, adding that it was predictable that the US regime would resort to accusations and forgeries against Iran before the US presidential elections.
Regarding Soleimani’s assassination, the Islamic Republic of Iran will go ahead with international legal action at all levels, he said.
