An Iranian-American man who lived in Texas pleaded guilty to taking part in an assassination plot targeting the Saudi ambassador to the United States.

Manssor Arbabsiar, 57, entered his plea in a Manhattan court on Wednesday, the FBI said in a statement.

Prosecutors allege that Arbabsiar attempted to recruit a Mexican drug cartel to bomb an eatery in Washington, D.C., where Saudi Ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir would be eating. The cartel operative turned out to be an undercover FBI agent.

“Today’s plea and the disruption of this plot should serve as a reminder of the exceptional efforts of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies in protecting America against terrorist attacks and in holding accountable those who plan such actions,” U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said, according to a release.

Arbabsiar, a former used car salesman, admitted to acting on behalf of members of the Iranian government to pay $1.5 million in the assassination plot.

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