WASHINGTON — The United States has “categorically condemned” an alleged Iranian plot to kidnap a US-based journalist with the help of intelligence agents. Condemning the plot during a press conference on Wednesday, the spokesman of the US Department of State, Ned Price said: “There should be no doubt about where this administration, including the State Dept, stands." The White House has also denounced the plot, adding that nuclear talks with Iran will, however, continue. Meanwhile, US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley tweeted on Wednesday, saying: “Greatly disturbed by Iran"s alleged plot to kidnap a US citizen. We strongly condemn Iran"s continued attempts at kidnapping journalists and critics of the regime in order to silence dissent.” “Even as the US remains willing to engage in diplomacy toward a mutual return to the JCPOA, we will not hesitate to defend our citizens and call out Iran’s human rights abuses,” Malley added. The US condemnation comes in the wake of an alleged plot by Iranian intelligence agents to abduct an Iranian American journalist living in the US and take her to the Middle Eastern country, possibly via a daring maritime evacuation. Based on an indictment by the Justice Department, four Iranians were charged on Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan with conspiring to kidnap Masih Alinejad, an exiled journalist and women’s rights activist who has long been critical of the regime in Tehran. Alinejad was not identified by prosecutors, but she confirmed on Twitter that she was the intended target. In a statement on Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists denounced the Iranian plot. “US officials’ indictment of five Iranian nationals suspected of plotting to kidnap journalist Masih Alinejad shows that Iranian intelligence agents will stop at nothing to silence independent members of the press, even those abroad,” said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour. “US authorities must ensure that the perpetrators of this scheme are held to account, and Iran must cease its efforts to harass and harm journalists globally.”