“The United States has accused Iran of providing sanctuary to an al Qaeda network that provides help to jihadists moving between the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The U.S. Department of the Treasury Thursday [July 28, 2011] announced the designation of six members of the network, including its alleged leader Ezedin Abdel Aziz Khalil, and described Iran as a ‘critical transit point for funding to support al-Qaeda’s activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan.’ ‘This network serves as the core pipeline through which al-Qaeda moves money, facilitators and operatives from across the Middle East to South Asia,’ the U.S. Treasury said in a statement. ‘We are illuminating yet another aspect of Iran’s unmatched support for terrorism,’ said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, David S. Cohen. ‘Today’s action also seeks to disrupt this key network and deny al-Qaeda’s senior leadership much-needed support.’ ”
– Tim Lister, “U.S. Accuses Iran of Sheltering al Qaeda Network,” CNN, July 28, 2011