Washington, Oct 12 - Two men have been charged in the US for their alleged participation in a plot to murder the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US with explosives, Xinhua quoted the US Justice Department as saying Tuesday.

Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalised US citizen holding both Iranian and US passports, and another Iranian Gholam Shakuri were charged with conspiracy to murder a foreign official, and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, among others, said the US Justice Department in a statement.

It alleged that the plot was directed by "elements of the Iranian government."

Arbabsiar was arrested Sep 29, 2011, at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. He faces a maximum potential sentence of life in prison if convicted. Shakuri remains at large. (IANS)