US State Department accuses Iran of being top state sponsor of terrorism
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{{date|May 1, 2007}}
[[Image:US-DeptOfState-Seal.jpg|right|thumb|Seal of the U.S. State Department.]]
In the latest report published by the [[United States]] [[w:United States Department of State|State Department]], it accuses [[Iran]] of being the top state sponsor of terrorism.  The report contrasts [[Al-Qaeda]]'s interest in "global jihad" against the interests which Iran is said to be sponsoring.  Iran's focus is explained as [[Israel]], [[Iraq]], and [[Afghanistan]].

The report describes Iran's interest in Israel as, "encouraging anti-Israeli terrorist activity, rhetorically, operationally, and financially."  Supreme Leader [[Ali Khamenei|Khamenei]] and President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] are accused of lauding terrorist attacks carried out by anti-Zionist groups.  The report notes that Iran's support for organisations involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict is not limited to [[w:Shia Islam|Shia]] groups such as [[w:Hezbollah|Hezbollah]];  [[w:Hamas|Hamas]] and others are, like most Palestinians, [[w:Sunni Islam|Sunni]] muslims.

Second, Iran is accused of playing a "destabilizing role in Iraq."  In particular, Iran's providing of [[w:Improvised explosive device|IED]] to rejectionist groups in Iraq were mentioned in the State Department report.  The report also indicates that Iraq is "not currently a terrorist safe haven" but can become a "potential safe haven" for them.  Iranian officials deny that they are supplying weapons to Iraqi insurgent groups.

Third, Iran is said have aided the [[w:Taliban|Taliban]] militarily according to General [[w:Peter Pace|Peter Pace]] and other U.S. officials.  In Afghanistan, Iran gainsays a military role; it only acknowledges that it has helped with the reconstruction and revival of the Afghan economy.  

The [[w:Islamic Revolutionary Guards|Islamic Revolutionary Guards]] and [[w:Ministry of Intelligence (Iran)|Iran's intelligence ministry]] were specifically named in the coordination of the activities of the Iranian government abroad.

This statements of this State Department report are not novel.  In fact, in 2006, U.S. Defense Secretary [[w:Donald Rumsfeld|Donald Rumsfeld]] said, "The Iranian regime is today the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism."

Many Iranian officials accuse the United States of terrorism and a raft of crimes in return and "Death to America" chants are a regular scene at [[w:Friday prayers|Friday prayers]] throughout Iran.  

Ayatollah [[w:Ebrahim Amini|Ebrahim Amini]], the 2nd deputy chair of the [[w:Assembly of Experts|Assembly of Experts]] has, for instance, said,{{CQuote|How do they allow themselves to commit so many crimes? Is this the same democracy that [[w:George W. Bush|Bush]], [[w:Tony Blair|Blair]], and [[w:Ariel Sharon|Sharon]] want to bring the Iraqi people as a gift? Death to this [[w:democracy|democracy]]. Is this how you want to present this democracy to the world? Shame on this democracy. Are you humans? Animals? What are you?...Why do they commit so many crimes? Stop it. Enough with the treachery. Enough with the crimes.}}

Other countries on the state sponsors of terrorism list were [[Cuba]], [[North Korea]], [[Sudan]], and [[Syria]].
 
== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/4763701.html
|title=Iran tops list of state terror sponsors
|author=Matthew Lee, AP
|pub=Houston Chronicle
|date=May 1, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0700world/tm_headline=iran--world-s-biggest-terror-supporter-&method=full&objectid=19026296&siteid=50082-name_page.html
|title=Iran 'world's biggest terror supporter'
|author=
|pub=icWales
|date=May 1 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1741166020070417?pageNumber=1
|title=Top U.S. general says Iranian weapons in Afghanistan
|author=Kristin Roberts
|pub=Reuters
|date=April 17, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7379434
|title=Questioning Iran's Role in Iraq Insurgency
|author=
|pub=National Public Radio
|date=February 13, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.khamenei.ir/EN/News/detail.jsp?id=20061210A
|title=Palestinian Prime Minister Meets the Leader
|author=
|pub=Supreme Leader's Office
|date=December 10, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4955430.stm
|title=US says Iran top terror sponsor
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=April 28, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/04/politics/main1281385.shtml
|title=Rumsfeld Calls Iran Top Terror Sponsor
|author=
|pub=CBS News
|date=February 4, 2006}}

== External links ==

*[http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2006/82736.htm Country Reports on Terrorism, Chapter 3 -- State Sponsors of Terrorism Overview]
*[http://www.cfr.org/publication/9362/state_sponsors.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F458%2F State Sponsors: Iran] at the [[w:Council on Foreign Relations|Council on Foreign Relations]] think thank (July 2006)
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/hamas.htm HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/pij.htm Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ)]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/pflp.htm Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/pflpgc.htm Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (PFLP-GC)]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/hizballah.htm  Hezbollah, Party of God] 
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OIUieD2KN4 Khamenei Explains Why Say "Death to America"]

{{publish}}
{{archive}}
[[Category:Iran]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Al-Qaeda]]
[[Category:Hamas]]
[[Category:Hezbollah]]
[[Category:Sunni Islam]]
[[Category:Shia Islam]]

</noinclude>
Seal of the U.S. State Department.
In the latest report published by the United States State Department, it accuses Iran of being the top state sponsor of terrorism.  The report contrasts Al-Qaeda's interest in "global jihad" against the interests which Iran is said to be sponsoring.  Iran's focus is explained as Israel, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The report describes Iran's interest in Israel as, "encouraging anti-Israeli terrorist activity, rhetorically, operationally, and financially."  Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are accused of lauding terrorist attacks carried out by anti-Zionist groups.  The report notes that Iran's support for organisations involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict is not limited to Shia groups such as Hezbollah;  Hamas and others are, like most Palestinians, Sunni muslims.

Second, Iran is accused of playing a "destabilizing role in Iraq."  In particular, Iran's providing of IED to rejectionist groups in Iraq were mentioned in the State Department report.  The report also indicates that Iraq is "not currently a terrorist safe haven" but can become a "potential safe haven" for them.  Iranian officials deny that they are supplying weapons to Iraqi insurgent groups.

Third, Iran is said have aided the Taliban militarily according to General Peter Pace and other U.S. officials.  In Afghanistan, Iran gainsays a military role; it only acknowledges that it has helped with the reconstruction and revival of the Afghan economy.  

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards and Iran's intelligence ministry were specifically named in the coordination of the activities of the Iranian government abroad.

This statements of this State Department report are not novel.  In fact, in 2006, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said, "The Iranian regime is today the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism."

Many Iranian officials accuse the United States of terrorism and a raft of crimes in return and "Death to America" chants are a regular scene at Friday prayers throughout Iran.  

Ayatollah Ebrahim Amini, the 2nd deputy chair of the Assembly of Experts has, for instance, said,

Other countries on the state sponsors of terrorism list were Cuba, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
Iran Asia United States North America Politics and conflicts Middle East Al-Qaeda Hamas Hezbollah Sunni Islam Shia Islam