US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Iran incited violence against Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed multiple times on Friday while preparing to give a lecture in New York.
"While law enforcement officials continue to investigate the attack, I am reminded of the pernicious forces that seek to undermine these rights, including through hate speech and incitement to violence," Blinken said in a statement.
"Specifically, Iranian state institutions have incited violence against Rushdie for generations, and state-affiliated media recently gloated about the attempt on his life. This is despicable," Blinken said.