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WASHINGTON (AFP) – A Congressional panel released a report Wednesday that alleges that Iran's elite Al-Quds force offers support to Al-Qaeda, adding a new dimension to the militant threat to the United States.

In its report to the Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus, the strategic advisory firm Kronos highlighted what it says are increasingly strong links between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps force and Al-Qaeda.

The report was released by the caucus after US troops killed Osama bin Laden in a raid in Pakistan that raised fresh doubts about Pakistan's willingness or ability to track down Al-Qaeda suspects.

"Iran has quietly forged a strong working relationship with core al-Qaeda?s leaders," said the report's author Michael S. Smith II.

"This relationship has been established to counter American influence in the Middle East and South Asia," according to his report.
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"Through it, Iran will likely also help Al-Qaeda mobilize terrorists to carry out attacks against the US and our allies, providing the support required to extend Al-Qaeda's operational reach," the report added.

Smith argued that not enough attention has been paid to the links between the two entities because of a "pervasive" belief that Shiite and non-Arab Iran will work with the Sunni Arab militants of Al-Qaeda.

The ties date back to the 1990s when Al-Quds members worked with t... >>>