WASHINGTON — The Obama administration accused Iran on Thursday of entering into a “secret deal” with an al-Qaeda offshoot that provides money and recruits for attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 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-Qaeda, 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-Qaeda operations by shedding light on Iran’s role as a “critical transit point” for money and extremists reaching Pakistan and Afghanistan. “This network serves as the core pipeline through which al-Qaeda moves money, facilitators and operatives from across the Middle East to South Asia,” a statement said.
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-Qaeda’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-Qaeda’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.
No Iranian officials were cited for complicity in terrorism.
The others targeted were Umid Muhammadi, described as a key planner for al-Qaeda in Iraq’s attacks; Salim Hasan Khalifa Rashid al-Kuwari and Abdallah Ghanim Mafuz Muslim al-Khawar, Qatar-based financial supporters who’ve allegedly helped extremists travel across the region; and Ali Hassan Ali al-Ajmi, a Kuwait-based fundraiser for al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
David Cohen, Treasury’s point man for terrorism and financial intelligence, said: “We are illuminating yet another aspect of Iran’s unmatched support for terrorism.”
