A VIA Rail Canada passenger train: Canadian authorities have
declared with
some certainly that two men who planned to derail a Via train on
its journey
from Toronto to New York were 'backed by al-Qaeda elements based
in Iran'.
Tehran says that is impossible.
Iran Calls Canadian
Charge it is Tied to al-Qaeda Plot 'Ridiculous' (Kayhan,
Islamic Republic of Iran)
Were the two
men arrested on Sunday for plotting to bomb a Toronto passenger train bound for
New York 'backed by al-Qaeda elements based in Iran'? According to this news
item from Iran's state-run Kayhan, even if Canadian authorities have said there is no evidence
that the plot was state-sponsored, Iran asserts its longtime opposition to
al-Qaeda, and categorically denies that any kind of al-Qaeda activity is
possible on Iranian territory.
TEHRAN: Tehran has denied any involvement in a plot to
derail a Canadian passenger train that police say was backed by al-Qaeda
elements based in Iran.
While Canadian police said there was no indication that
the plot was state sponsored - Tehran nevertheless reacted angrily.
"Not a shred of evidence has been provided regarding
those who were arrested and stand accused," the Mehr
News Agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman RaminMehmanparast as saying.
Mehmanparast said that al-Qaeda's
beliefs were in no way consistent with the Islamic Republic, and that Iran
opposed "any kind of violent action" that endangers lives. "In
recent years, Canada's radical government has put into practice a policy of
harassing Iran, and it is clear that in this case, it is pursuing these hostile
actions," he added.
Last September, Canada severed diplomatic relations with
Iran over its support for groups that resist the Israeli occupation.
According to the United States, the attack would have
targeted a rail line between New York and Toronto. Canadian authorities
arrested two suspects, ChihebEsseghaier,
30, of Montreal, and RaedJaser,
35, of Toronto, linking them to al-Qaeda.
Iran has little in common with the extremist group, and periodically
launches crackdowns on al-Qaeda elements. Iranian authorities have also battled
an extremist insurgency of their own in recent years.
The Jundollah organization, believed to be based across the
border in Pakistan, claims several attacks, including a bombing, that killed 42
people in 2009. It has also attacked mosques in Zahedan
and elsewhere in the region.
Jundollah has links to al-Qaeda,
deriving its support from Pakistan, Britain and the United States, to mount their
campaign to stir instability.
Iran was also strong opponent of the Taliban, which
sheltered Osama bin Laden and others before the U.S.-led invasion of that
country after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Many al-Qaeda leaders similarly view
Iranians with hostility.
"We oppose any terrorist and violent action that
would jeopardize the lives of innocent people," Mehmanparast
said.
He called Canadian claims part of a hostile policy against
Tehran, and accused Canada of indirectly aiding al-Qaeda by taking part in Western
support for the Syrian rebels. Some militant factions, claiming allegiance to al-Qaeda,
have joined rebel forces to try and topple the Syrian government.
"As it enjoys Canada's support, the same (al-Qaeda)
current is killing people in Syria," said Mehmanparast.
And Mehmanparast dismissed
Canadian allegations as being part of its "Iranophobia"
campaign.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is the biggest victim of
terrorism, but over the recent years, Canada's extremist administration has put
Iranophobia on its agenda,” he said.
In a separate comment, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi called the claim by Canadian authorities "the
most ridiculous words of falsehood."
"I hope Canadian officials exercise more wisdom in
the futire," he said.
Since last year, the two countries have had no diplomatic
relations. Canada unilaterally closed its Tehran embassy in 2012, and expelled
Iranian diplomats from Ottawa.
Posted By
Worldmeets.US
On Monday, spokesman for Iran's U.N. mission, AlirezaMiryousefi, said the
terrorist network was not operating in the country.
" Iran's position against this group is very clear
and well known. (Al-Qaeda) has no possibility to do any activity inside Iran or
conduct any operation abroad from Iran's territory," Miryousefi
told The Associated Press via e-mail.
"We reject strongly and categorically any connection to this story."
