US accuses Iran of secret deal with terrorist organization

The Obama administration accused Iran on Thursday of entering into a "secret deal" with an al-Qaida offshoot that provides money and recruits for attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Associated Press reports. The Treasury Department designated six members of the unit as terrorists subject to U.S. sanctions.

The announcement was made despite disagreements in the U.S. intelligence community about the extent of direct links between the Iranian government and al-Qaida, officials said. Most analysts agree there is a murky relationship between the two and at least some cooperation. But Thursday’s allegations go further.

Treasury said its exposure of the clandestine agreement would disrupt al-Qaida operations by shedding light on Iran’s role as a "critical transit point" for money and extremists reaching Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Treasury said a branch headed by Ezedin Abdel Aziz Khalil was operating in Iran with the Tehran government’s blessing, funneling funds collected from across the Arab world to al-Qaida’s senior leaders in Pakistan. Khalil, the department said, has operated within Iran’s borders for six years. Also targeted by the sanctions is Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, appointed by Osama bin Laden as al-Qaida’s envoy in Iran after serving as a commander in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

As an emissary, al-Rahman is allowed to travel in and out of Iran with the permission of government officials, the statement claimed. The sanctions block any assets the individuals might have held in the United States, and bans Americans from doing any business with them.


/APA/