Iran slams Saudi claim that it harbors Al-Qaeda leaders
- Middle East
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 12:00 | 20 March 2018
- Modified Date: 09:06 | 20 March 2018
Iran's Foreign Ministry has dismissed allegations by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia that Tehran was providing sanctuary to Al-Qaeda leaders.
"[Saudi Crown Prince] Mohammad bin Salman's claim that Iran is harboring Al-Qaeda leaders is a big lie," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said in a Tuesday statement.
Qassemi went on to assert that "some Al-Qaeda affiliates, including relatives of former terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, were arrested [by Iran] and deported to Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia while fleeing the U.S. invasion in 2001".
In a Sunday interview with a major American television network, Saudi Arabia's crown prince accused Iran of being a "destabilizing force" in the region by continuing to harbor Al-Qaeda leaders.