Kamal Kharrazi: Al-Qaeda Suspects Detained by Iran Were Not Involved in Riyadh Terror Attack

Kamal Kharrazi, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated today that the Al-Qaeda operatives detained by the Iranian government were not responsible for the suicide attacks on May 11 in Saudi Arabia. Kharrazi told reporters that the suspects had been arrested before May 12 and could not have been involved in planning or executing a series of bombings that resulted in the deaths of 34 people, including eight Americans. He did not identify the suspects or specify their roles within Al-Qaeda. The Iranian Foreign Minister also mentioned that other countries with information about Al-Qaeda fugitives in Iran should inform Tehran officials so that suspected individuals can be quickly apprehended. Kharrazi made these remarks in response to accusations made almost daily by Bush administration officials regarding Iran harboring senior members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stated on Thursday that he was unaware of any plans indicating a U.S. military action against Iran. He also reiterated accusations that Tehran was broadcasting programs to incite Iraqi opponents against coalition forces in Iraq, which Iran has denied. The White House has suspended a high-level meeting that was to decide on policies related to Iran, with no new date set for such a meeting.