Operatives linked to Iran tried to kill foreign diplomats, including Israelis and Americans, in at least seven countries over 13 months, the Washington Post reported.

New evidence uncovered by investigators in four countries linked the assassination attempts to either Iran-backed Hezbollah militants or operatives based inside Iran, the Post reported May 28, citing U.S. and Middle Eastern security officials. The officials reportedly said the assassination attempts stopped in early spring, when Iran began to take a softer tone with the West in advance of nuclear arms talks.

Diplomats also were allegedly targeted in five other countries: India, Turkey, Thailand, Pakistan and the former Soviet republic of Georgia. — jta