Salam: Lebanon Voted in Favor of U.N. Call on Iran to Aid Saudi Envoy Plot Probe

Lebanon’s ambassador to the U.N. Nawwaf Salam has stressed that he voted in favor of a General Assembly draft resolution demanding that Iran cooperate with an investigation into an alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi envoy to Washington.

The Saudi resolution on the plot was passed with 106 votes in favor, nine against and 40 abstentions on Friday. The United States accuses Iran of masterminding the plot.

“Lebanon voted in favor and in harmony with the general Arab stance taken at the Arab League” meeting, Salam said in a statement on Saturday.

His statement came after media reports said that Salam and the other members of the Lebanese mission in New York did not attend the General Assembly meeting.

Lebanon has come under pressure for voting against an Arab League decision on Syria last week.

Friday’s resolution called on Iran "to comply with all of its obligations under international law" and "cooperate with states seeking to bring to justice all those who participated in the planning, sponsoring, organization and attempted execution of the plot."

An Iranian-American, Manssor Arbabsiar, pleaded not guilty to involvement in the plot in a New York court last month. An Iranian, Gholam Shakuri, is still wanted and said to be in Iran.