Al-Qaeda regularly posts audio and video tapes on the internet

Al-Qaeda’s deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, says Iran is lying about Israel being behind the 11 September 2001 attacks.

In an audio tape posted on the internet, Zawahiri insisted al-Qaeda had carried out the attacks on the US.

He accused Iran, and its Hezbollah allies, of trying to discredit Osama Bin Laden’s network.

Correspondents say the comments underline al-Qaeda’s increasing public hostility towards Iran.

In a two-hour audiotape posted on an Islamic website, Osama Bin Laden’s chief deputy responded to questions posted by al-Qaeda sympathizers.

In response to a question about persistent rumors in the Middle East that Israel was involved in the 9/11 attacks, Zawahiri said the rumor had begun on the Hezbollah television station, Al-Manar.

“The purpose of this lie is clear – Saying that there are no heroes among the Sunnis who hurt America as no-one else did in history, he said.”The Iranian media snapped up this lie and repeated it.”

In this second verbal attack on Iran , Zawahiri went on to criticise Iran for co-operating with the US in its 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, that helped to remove the Taleban.

“Iran’s aim here is also clear – to cover up its involvement with America in invading the homes of Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq,” he said.

Earlier this month, in an audiotape the al-Qaeda deputy accused Iran of planning to annexe southern Iraq and the eastern part of the Arabian peninsula.

These messages appear to play on Sunni fears throughout the region of growing Iranian influence, and to present al-Qaeda as the best bulwark against Tehran.