As tensions rise in the Persian Gulf, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday (12) claimed that Iran and the terrorist group Al Qaeda have “turned enemies into friends” and that the Tehran regime has allowed the other side to establish an “operational headquarters” in the country and direct its members everywhere, describing them as terrorist partners, and denouncing the “axis of terror” as a threat to Middle East peace.
In a press conference in Washington, D.C., Pompeo cited new but inconclusive evidence, accusing Iran of allowing Aqaid to set up its headquarters in the country on condition that it complies with the Tehran regime, while giving the group’s leaders greater freedom of action under its supervision. He said Iranian government departments and the Revolutionary Guards Corps provided travel and identification documents to allow Aqaid to raise funds in the country, contact members abroad and take charge of its original operations in other countries.
Pompeo said Aqaid had concentrated its leadership in Iran, describing the country as the new Afghanistan, but said the U.S. had less relevant intelligence and fewer options for attack, making Iran worse than Afghanistan; he also said the “Iran-Aqaid axis” threatened the peace process between Israel and Arab countries. He also confirmed for the first time that Abdullah, the number two man in Aqaid, was assassinated in Tehran last year, proving that the organization and Iran are not enemies as the outside world thinks.
In response to Pompeo’s comments, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif hit back on social media, denouncing the U.S. side’s fictitious allegations and describing Pompeo as “a pathetic end to his disastrous official career” with more belligerent lies. He denied that Iran was the perfect haven option for Agued after the 9/11 terror attacks, as the other side said, “No one will be deceived, all the 9/11 terrorists came from Pompeo’s favorite Middle East destination (Saudi Arabia) and no one came from Iran.”
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