Tehran Rejects Canada Al-Qaida Iran Link as 'Ridiculous'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Iran rejected as "ridiculous" on Tuesday a claim by Ottawa that two foreigners arrested in connection with a plot to derail a passenger train in the Toronto area were backed by Tehran-supported al-Qaida.
"This is the most hilarious thing I've heard in my 64 years," Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted by the ISNA news agency as saying, adding that any suggestion that al-Qaida is linked to Iran "is truly ridiculous."
"We hope Canadian officials show a little wisdom and pay attention to the world's public opinion and intelligence," he added.
Iran is a Shiite Muslim majority nation, while al-Qaida is made up of Sunni Muslims who consider Shiites to be heretics.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast also rejected the claim.
"We are against any kind of terrorist act... The extremist Canadian government has Iranophobia on its agenda and possibly, in continuation of its hostile approach, aims to link this to our country," he added.
Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, and Raed Jaser, 35, were allegedly planning to carry out an attack on a Via Rail passenger train, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said, without giving their nationalities.
Assistant RCMP Commissioner James Malizia told reporters the suspects "were receiving support from al-Qaida elements located in Iran" but added: "There's no indication that these attacks were state-sponsored."
When asked to describe the kind of support offered, he replied: "Direction and guidance."
RCMP Chief Superintendent Jennifer Strachan said the duo -- who had been under surveillance since August -- planned "to derail a passenger train" in the Toronto area, though she would not specify on which route.
Canada broke diplomatic ties with Iran last September.
23 April 2013, 11:32
53
I guess HA is helping Al Qaeda in Syria. These stories are for the simple minded.
23 April 2013, 11:48
35
When the RCMP go after someone, it's for good reason. At least Canada has the balls to confront and defend against any idiotic uneducated radicals. This isn't the first time something like this has been stopped. Bravo Canada!
23 April 2013, 13:11
23
If they would elaborate on this Al-Qaida/Iran thing,that would be helpful too given they're mainly Sunni and Iran are majority Shi'a. Either way they stopped nuts planning and attack, but more information about this connection is needed.
23 April 2013, 20:38
10
wow your characters before and after your name do not match. how many times have you been kicked off naharnet. but beggers keep coming back. mish heik? hahahah
23 April 2013, 12:03
23
with a lie this obvious........something big is about to happen.
the last 2 weeks look like were heading towards ww3.
putin ...your getting what you wanted you criminal.
23 April 2013, 12:54
73
This article did not mention your native Saudi Arabia. Get some reading glasses.
23 April 2013, 13:56
53
How can a Qaida be supported by Iran? Qaida is pure Sunni hates Ali and his followers and wishes to kill them! and Iran is the exact target after the west and europe!! seriously those canadians need alot of education! do they know their country is on the American continant ? or they think they're in Asia??
23 April 2013, 14:08
11
this article is not accurate... the RCMP ( Royal Canadian Mounted Police) clearly said they do not believe the Iranian government is involved and that the al Qaeda in iran is in a sunni region that borders Afghanistan!!
23 April 2013, 14:34
13
It's like a Christian says Muslims hate Jesus!
No Muslim in the world hates Jesus period.
23 April 2013, 15:14
00
Our government has made a fool of herself accusing Shiite Iran of supporting or housing Sunni Al Qaida. This is a ridiculous accusation that makes no sense.
Being in stark submission to the Zionist propaganda machine, the government thought her comments will please the Zionists. It is best for Canada stay out of this mess.
23 April 2013, 17:34
12
"...The extremist Canadian government has Iranophobia..." ???!!!!
23 April 2013, 17:40
01
Terrorists are real. Brain washing is often simple on the young ones. Like the Boston idiots, one guy 19 years old. So in short I am happy to hear of terrorists being arrested. Regardless of their nationality. The point is the RCMP just saved someone's life. Imagine the Michele smaha case, thank god they busted that ring up. Maybe they saved a relative or a friend from harm. Stay safe Lebanese.
23 April 2013, 17:45
21
habibi the Boston boys were brain washed by CIA and has nothing to do with anything in the world its an American game they havent been the victims for so long and eversince i died no one was able to target them so they target themselves...
24 April 2013, 08:52
00
Iran Biggest terrorist state sponsor on earth! Biggest bluffer too. Always where you don' t expect him. Hizbollah has been cloned to the same standards: bluff. Serial killer on one hand, , then voting and backing the STL until the game is exposed, then fighting it. Hizbollah organising for the STL investigators a visit to a city southern suburbs clinic , then organising by the busload contingents to pelt and stone those same investigators. Iran and Syria channelling Al Qaeda fighters to Irak to fight the americans, then claiming they can't control their frontiers. Hizbollah backing a gov with a socalled neutral policy in Syria, then sending massive aid to rescue the syrian criminal regime, and pretending these are personal independant decisions taken by commited muslims ! Typically it boils down to display strong opposition, fight some position or actions, whereas you stand exactly at that opposite point you try to lead people the think you're against.
24 April 2013, 08:53
00
This game is exposed and over. So yes, Iran is probably behind what Canada is accusing it of planning ! Yes Hizbollah is behind the Bulgaria bombing. Yes Iran is behind Thailand bomb. I can see no reason why remote neutral countries would put together a criminal case, just to implicate Hizbollah. Or Iran too. But I can understand why Hizbollah chose to operate in politically and geographically distant countries, unprepared, unaware they could be easy hosts to such murderous activities.
