WASHINGTON,Febrauary4,2012: US officials say they believe Iran recently gave new freedoms to as many as five top al Qaeda operatives who have been under house arrest, including the option to leave the country, and may have provided some material aid to the terrorist group, the US newspaper report said.According to the Wall Street Journal, the men, who were detained in Iran in 2003, make up al Qaeda's so-called management council, a group that includes members of the inner circle that advised Osama bin Laden and an explosives expert widely considered a candidate for a top post in the organization.Skeptics caution that intelligence on Iran's activities is limited and worry that some policy makers might use provocative reports to justify military action against Tehran. Iran has denied any connection with al Qaeda.US officials believe there have been recent indications officials in the Iranian government have provided al Qaeda operatives in Iran limited assistance, including logistical help, money and cars, according to a person briefed on the developments.Adding to the US pressure on Iran, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told senators in an annual intelligence assessment that US agencies believe the Iranian regime is now more willing to conduct an attack in the US"We have to be vigilant for more of that," Mr. Clapper told lawmakers Thursday.The reports come at a time of growing concern about Iran's decision-making. President Barack Obama, in last month's State of the Union address, said "America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal."Even among US officials who believe Iran has given greater freedoms to al Qaeda operatives, there is substantial debate within the US government about whether that means there are significant ties between Iran and al Qaeda.
