New York, NY, October 12, 2011 … The Anti-Defamation League praised President Obama, U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies for intercepting an alleged Iranian sponsored attack against Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., citing this incident as evidence that the Iranian regime is "reckless" and that the U.S. government should "employ all aspects of American power necessary to ensure that Iran never achieves a nuclear weapons capability."

Robert G. Sugarman, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director sent the following letter to Mr. Obama:

Dear Mr. President:

We write to commend you and U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies on the prevention of an Iranian sponsored attack in America against Saudi Arabia's ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir.  In addition to targeting the ambassador of an important American ally, the attack could have potentially killed and injured hundreds of others. 

The significance of the plot extends well beyond Ambassador Al-Jubeir, Saudia Arabia, and the possible murder of innocent Americans.  Its audaciousness, its direction by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the intention to carry it out on American soil all underscore the necessity of preventing Iran from achieving a nuclear weapons capability. 

An Iranian regime so reckless that it would contemplate committing an act of terror in our capital cannot reliably be deterred from using nuclear weapons once it has developed them.  Iran's recent refusal of your offer to establish a military-to-military hotline further argues against any consideration of a future strategy of deterrence. 

Mr. President, we all sleep better knowing that American law enforcement and intelligence are working around the clock each and every day to protect us.  However, a successful terrorist plot to detonate a nuclear explosion on an incoming ship to a major American port would be the gravest event in our nation's history. 

The reports of Saudi and Israeli embassies in Argentina and the Israeli embassy in Washington also being targeted remind us of the global reach of Iran's terror operations and the fact that Iran's terrorism and nuclear program threaten not just America but our allies as well.  The Iranian sponsored terror attacks on the Israeli embassy and the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires prove that this threat is not idle. 

We appreciate your repeated declarations that "it is unacceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon" and respectfully urge you to employ all aspects of American power necessary to ensure that Iran never achieves a nuclear weapons capability.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.