The trial of Manssor Arbabsiar, the Iranian-American car salesman accused of plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S., was postponed to January.

U.S. District Judge John Keenan in New York today agreed to delay Arbabsiar’s trial until Jan. 7. He said the original Oct. 22 trial date will now be a hearing to determine whether to grant Arbabsiar’s motion to dismiss the indictment or suppress his confession.