Iranian embassy denies anti-Semitic attack plot in Greece

Iran's embassy in Greece on Wednesday denied any connection to an alleged plot for anti-Semitic attacks in Athens using Pakistanis of Iranian origin.

"The embassy of the Republic of Iran strongly denies the rumors spread by Zionist sources and their baseless accusations against Iran. It is obvious that their fabricated scenarios are intended to divert the public's attention from their internal crisis," it said on Twitter.

Greek police on Tuesday said they had arrested two young Pakistanis of Iranian origin who were planning attacks on areas frequented by Israelis in central Athens.

The source said that the men had targeted a building that houses a Jewish restaurant and a prayer center.

Police spokeswoman Constantia Dimoglidou told AFP the "mastermind" of the cell is "a Pakistani who lives outside Europe." 

A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the person lived in Iran.

Israel accused Tehran of being behind the plot and said its national intelligence agency, Mossad, had helped avert an attack.

"After the investigation of the suspects in Greece, the Mossad helped untangle the intelligence of the network, its operational methods and ties to Iran," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

"As part of the investigation, it emerged that the infrastructure in Greece was part of a broad Iranian network, operated from Iran toward many countries," a statement said. 

The announcement came as Greece's under-fire prime minister announced elections would be held on May 21, as popular anger seethes over government failures blamed in last month's train tragedy that killed 57 people.

Greece's intelligence agency EYP has also faced pressure in past months over a wiretapping scandal that erupted last year.