Mike Pompeo likely to reveal latest Iran-Al Qaeda ties
13 January, 2021
US Secretary of Point out Mike Pompeo ideas to use recently declassified US intelligence on Tuesday to publicly accuse Iran of ties to Al Qaeda, two people familiar with the problem said, within his last-minute offensive against Tehran before handing to the incoming Biden administration.
With just eight times still left in office for President Donald Trump, Mr Pompeo is likely to offer details on allegations that Iran has given safe and sound haven to Al Qaeda leaders and support for the group, the options said, despite some skepticism within the intelligence network and Congress.
It had been not immediately clear how much Mr Pompeo intends to reveal in his speech to the National Press Golf club in Washington on Tuesday. He could cite declassified data on the eliminating of Al Qaeda's suspected second-in-order in Tehran in August, said the resources, speaking on state of anonymity.
The New York Times reported in November that Abu Muhammad Al Masri, accused of helping to mastermind the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa, was gunned down by Israeli operatives in Iran. Iran denied the article, saying there have been no Al Qaeda "terrorists" on its soil.
Iran is a target through the entire Trump administration and Mr Pompeo has sought to help expand ratchet up pressure on Iran in recent weeks with more sanctions and heated rhetoric.
Advisers to President-elect Joe Biden believe the Trump administration is wanting to make it all harder for him to re-engage with Iran and get to rejoin a global package on Iran's nuclear method.
More sanctions
Mr Pompeo has accused Iran of links to Al Qaeda during the past but has not provided concrete evidence.
"There have been times the Iranians been employed by alongside Al Qaeda," then CIA director Mr Pompeo said found in October 2017.
Earlier accusations by the George W Bush administration of Iranian links to Al Qaeda's September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States have been discredited. But reviews have surfaced over time of Al Qaeda operatives hiding out in Iran.
A former senior US cleverness official with direct understanding of the issue said the Iranians were by no means friendly with Al Qaeda before or following the September 11 attacks and any claims of current cooperation should be viewed warily.
Relations between Tehran and Washington have deteriorated since 2018 when Mr Trump abandoned Iran's 2015 nuclear package, which imposed strict curbs on it has the nuclear activities in substitution for the lifting of sanctions.
Because the beginning of his administration, Mr Trump has imposed sanctions on Iranian officials, politicians and companies in order to force Tehran to negotiate a broader deal that further limits its nuclear job.
And extra sanctions are expected just before Trump leaves office, US officials say.
While sanctions have sharply lowered Tehran's essential oil exports and increased the economic hardship of regular Iranians, it has failed to bring Iran back again to the negotiating table.
Mr Biden has said america will rejoin the nuclear package "if Iran resumes strict compliance."
Source: www.thenationalnews.com
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