Iran reports to Security Council committee on efforts to block Al-Qaida, Taliban

Iran has turned over a list of "suspicious persons" to a United Nations Security Council committee overseeing sanctions against Usama bin Laden, Al-Qaida and the Taliban.

In a report to the Council's sanctions committee, responding to information requests sent to all nations earlier this year, Iran said, "A list of 78 persons who have been arrested and deported to their countries of origin has been submitted to the Committee. Another list comprising 147 more names has been presented to the Committee."

The eight-page statement, submitted earlier but released today, also said, "A few suspects are also in custody for further investigation."

Iran also said that it had spotted the threat of the "fanatic" Taliban and Al-Qaida early on, had warned the world about them, and had never authorized any activity of the groups on Iranian territory.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran did not authorize any sort of activity by the Taliban, Usama bin Laden or Al-Qaida in its territory from the early days of their domination over Afghanistan due to their sectarian, reactionary and fanatic nature," it said.

"Moreover, proper warnings were issued by the Islamic Republic of Iran to the international community regarding the threat they posed against regional and international peace and security," it said.

The eight-page reply contained Iran's answers to 25 questions the committee issued to all countries after the resolution was adopted 17 January. The Council panel oversees the sanctions against Usama bin Laden, Al-Qaida and the Taliban and their associates, which require countries to freeze financial resources, including funds derived or generated by any undertaking owned or controlled by the Taliban, and to ensure that they are not used by the group.

States are also obliged to freeze funds and other financial assets of Usama bin Laden and his associates in the Al-Qaida organization, and to prevent their entry or transit through the State's territory. In addition, nations must prevent the supply, sale and transfer of all arms and materiel - along with any form of military training - to the named individuals and entities.

Iran said that their warnings about the Taliban and Al-Qaida came "when efforts were under way by some to gain recognition for the Taliban as the constitutional government of Afghanistan in the United Nations and other international organizations."

In answering specific questions, Iran said none of the persons on a list of terrorist suspects, distributed by the committee, had been in Iran; that some 2,300 persons who had illegally entered Iran since shortly after the Al-Qaida attacks on the United States, had all been turned over to Pakistani border guards; that an additional 400 persons attempting to enter Iran during the second Persian Gulf war had been refused entry, and that Iran has taken measures "to enlighten high-standing scholars, thinkers, elites" in its border areas "to prevent the spread of the influence of the Taliban and Al-Qaida."

In answer to a question about any international support it would need to help in the anti-terrorism fight, Iran said "it is hoped the international community, particularly the United Nations, will extend assistance" to Iran's effort to control its borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan.