United Nations Says Iran Is Harboring Al Qaeda’s New Leader

Iran is harboring al Qaeda’s new leader Saif al-Adel, according to intelligence collected by the United Nations.

All member states of the U.N. unanimously agreed that al-Adel was now the “uncontested leader” of the international terror group and is running operations from inside Iran, according to a report published Thursday by the U.N. Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team.

Al Qaeda has not formally announced al-Adel’s ascension, primarily due to his presence in Iran, which has historically been at odds with the terror group due to religious differences. The group’s former leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was killed in a U.S. strike last year.

“Member States’ predominant view is that [al-Adel] is now the de facto leader of al Qaeda, representing continuity for now,” The report states that “But his leadership cannot be declared because of … the fact of [al-Adel’s] presence in the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The report signals that despite religious divisions between Iran’s hardline clerical regime and al Qaeda, there is a growing desire among both entities to team up on the terrorism front. Al-Adel, who has strong ties to Iran’s regime, fled the country with several top al Qaeda members in the 2000s. He is Believed to be orchestrated al Qaeda’s terror operations from his perch in Iran, including attacks on Americans.

“Religious differences between al-Qaeda and the Islamic Republic are not likely to hinder ongoing ‘operational coordination’ between al Qaeda and Tehran’s security forces,” According to an Analysis published Friday by United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI), a watchdog group that closely tracks Tehran’s terrorism enterprise. “They share enmities toward the West, an interest in evicting the U.S. from the Middle East, and an aim of committing terrorist attacks against the U.S. and its allies and partners in the region, including Israel and Saudi Arabia.”

Iran’s decision to harbor al-Adel violates a U.N. Security Council resolution barring countries from providing safe haven to any members of al Qaeda. The State Department is also concerned. Assessments that al-Adel is al Qaeda’s “new de facto leader” He is. “based in Iran.” The State Department has $10 million bounty As part of its Rewards for Justice Program, al-Adel was included.

U.N. member nations predominantly agreed that al-Adel’s presence in Iran is “a key factor” in al Qaeda’s decision not to formally announce his leadership role, according to the Security Council report. “His geographical location raises questions that could have an impact on