Iran has spent two decades keeping al-Qaeda close as a partner it can deny, and could turn to it if the war with the United States escalates, a counterterrorism expert told Iran International. With Hezbollah and Hamas weakened, she said, it is the card Tehran has left. Sara Harmouch, chief executive of H9 Defense and an adjunct professor at George Washington University, said the relationship is no longer a historical footnote. "Who is better to rise as a secret proxy for Iran than al-Qaeda?" she said. "Al-Qaeda keeps a low profile and continues to maintain plausible deniability." Intelligence circulating in the Middle East and among the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, which US and Western officials have not confirmed, suggests that Saif al-Adel, al-Qaeda's de facto leader, who has long been based in Iran, is preparing attacks if the war widens, Harmouch said. That would suit both sides, she said: Iran could deny involvement, and al-Qaeda could return to the world stage against Western interests. iranintl.com/en/202610013624

This is the tip of an iceberg that includes multiple terrorist cells, front organisations including charities, a network of academics and plants in respected think tanks and the media (including the BBC) and a cyber operation (coordinated with Russia) to hack multiple players from MPs to activists. It is widespread and sophisticated. I am not sure our politicians really understand the scale of the threat.

Niqab-clad @CNN Reporter: Aw, it’s just the Taliban —-cheering and shouting “Death to America”. They seem friendly and nice, tho! The same CNN: How dare we lose @WhiteHouse press access privileges! @POTUS is a threat to our rights!!!

🚨 BREAKING: The Government says the two Iranian men charged over the alleged terror plot against Jewish people in Manchester entered the UK by small boat in 2020 and 2023 One was granted asylum and the other has a live asylum claim