Iran Slams ‘Sinister’ Paris Attack Plot against it

Iran stated on Monday that it was prepared to cooperate with the concerned authorities to unravel the “sinister” plot against it in wake of Belgium’s announcement that it had arrested six people, including an Iranian diplomat, on suspicion of plotting an attack against an Iranian opposition meeting in Paris.

"Iran unequivocally condemns all violence & terror anywhere, and is ready to work with all concerned to uncover what is a sinister false flag ploy,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted.

The Belgian announcement coincided with the arrival of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Switzerland on Monday to hold talks with European officials on cooperation with Tehran in wake of the US withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

"How convenient: Just as we embark on a presidential visit to Europe, an alleged Iranian operation and its 'plotters' arrested,” added Zarif.

The plotters were planning on targeting a meeting of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) - an umbrella bloc of opposition groups in exile that seek an end to clerical rule in Iran.

The NCRI meeting, which attracted a crowd of thousands, took place on Saturday in Villepinte, just outside Paris, a three-hour drive from Brussels.

US President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani and several former European and Arab ministers attended the meeting.