Iranian Export

Reuters reports: CIA says 9/11 plotters passed through Iran.

The New York Times reported on Sunday that the Iranian government had ordered its border guards not to stamp the passports of Saudi al Qaeda members moving through Iran after training in Afghanistan. An Iranian stamp could have made the al Qaeda members subject to additional scrutiny upon entering the United States.

Said [John] McLaughlin, [acting director of the CIA,] "We've known for some time ... I think the count is about eight of the hijackers that were able to pass through Iran at some point in their passage along their operational path."

However, he said, it was not surprising that the hijackers could transit Iran, given what he said was the country's history of supporting terrorism.

UPDATE: From CNN: Bush: U.S. probes possible Iran links to 9/11.

Iran is harboring members of al Qaeda, and the United States is investigating whether the Iranian government had a role in the September 11, 2001, attacks, President Bush said Monday. Bush said the CIA has found no sign of a direct connection between Iran and the suicide hijackings that killed nearly 3,000 people. [...]

On Monday, Bush accused Iran of harboring suspected al Qaeda members and developing nuclear weapons. If the country's Islamic government is to improve ties with Washington, the president said, it must hand over any al Qaeda members to their home countries, abandon its suspected nuclear weapons program and end its support of Islamic militant groups such as Hezbollah, which the United States considers to be a terrorist organization.

And Martin Lindeskoghas lots of links on Iran.

Posted by Forkum at July 19, 2004 07:31 AM