An Iran - Al Qaeda Alliance?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran is vital to al-Qaeda. Reuters

US Accuses Iran Of 'Secret Deal' With al-Qaeda -- The Telegraph

The US has accused Iran of entering into a “secret deal” with an al-Qaeda offshoot that provides money and recruits for attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The US Treasury Department announced sanctions on six men accused of operating the terror network.

Iran-based Ezedine Abdel Aziz Khalil, aka Yasin al-Sura, was named as a “senior al-Qaeda facilitator” who has operated from inside Iran since 2005 “under an agreement between al-Qaeda and the Iranian government”.

Khalil launders al-Qaeda money and recruits from across the Middle East through Iran and then to Pakistan “for the benefit of al-Qaeda senior leaders,” the Treasury said in a statement.

Pakistan-based Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, formerly Osama bin Laden’s “emissary in Iran” was also named on the list. Rahman is currently al-Qaeda’s overall commander in Pakistan’s tribal areas, it said.

Four others – Umid Muhammadi, Salim Hasan Khalifa Rashid al-Kuwari, Abdallah Ghanim Mafuz Muslim al-Khawar, and Ali Hasan Ali al-Ajmi – were also named as part the operation working through and in Iran, the Treasury said.

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More News On Iran And Al Qaeda Working Together

U.S. accuses Iran of aiding al-Qaeda -- Washington Post
Iran Plays Host To Al Qaeda Network, Treasury Says -- Wall Street Journal
U.S. Sees Iranian, al Qaeda Alliance -- Wall Street Journal
Treasury: Iran funding al-Qaeda -- Politico
US charges Iran with al-Qaeda links -- Financial Times
US accuses Iran of 'secret' deal with al Qaeda to send money & fighters to Afghanistan & Pakistan -- ABC News
US Accuses Iran of Secret Al-Qaida Ties -- Voice of America
U.S.: Iran Has 'Secret Deal' with al-Qaeda -- Time/AP
US sanctions alleged Iran-centered Qaeda network -- AFP
U.S. Says Iran Is Partnering With Al Qaeda -- Atlantic Wire
U.S. Accuses Iran Of 'Secret Deal' With Al-Qaeda -- Radio Free Europe
Treasury targets Iran's 'secret deal' with al Qaeda -- Long War Journal
Is Iran working with al Qaeda? And is there a Qatari connection? -- Blake Hounshell, Foreign Policy
Al Qaeda’s Money Man In Iran -- Nathan Vardi, Forbes
Al Qaeda in Iran. The U.S. finally acknowledges the terror connection. -- Wall Street Journal editorial