US State Department issued
it's annual report on Patterns of Global
Terrorism on April 29, 2004. The report maintained
the State Department's designation of Iran, Libya and Syria as state sponsors of
terrorism. Following are excerpts from the report. The full text is available on
US State Department's web site.
Overview of State-Sponsored
Terrorism
Although several of the seven designated state
sponsors of Terrorism -- most notably Libya and Sudan -- took signifi cant steps
to cooperate in the global war on terrorism -- and the liberation of Iraq
removed a regime that had long supported terrorist groups. Nevertheless, the
other state sponsors -- Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria -- did not take all
the necessary actions to disassociate themselves fully from their ties to
terrorism in 2003. Although some in this latter group have improved their
performances in some areas, most have also continued the very actions that led
them to be declared state sponsors.
The performances of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and
Syria showed little change from previous years. Cuba remained opposed to the
US-led Coalition prosecuting the global war on terrorism and continued to
provide support to designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations and to host
several terrorists and dozens of fugitives from US state and federal justice.
Cuba allowed Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) members to reside in the
country and provided support and safehaven to members of the Colombian
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN). Iran
remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism in 2003: Islamic
Revolutionary Guard and Ministry of Intelligence and Security personnel were
involved in planning and support for terrorist acts. Although Iran detained
al-Qaida operatives in 2003, it refused to identify senior members in custody.
Tehran continued to encourage anti-Israel activities, both operationally and
rhetorically, providing logistic support and training to Lebanese Hizballah and
a variety of Palestinian rejectionist groups. North Korea announced it planned
to sign several antiterrorism conventions but did not take any substantive steps
to cooperate in efforts to combat terrorism. Syria continued to provide support
to Palestinian rejectionist groups and allowed them to operate out of Syria,
albeit with a lower profile after May 2003. Syria also served as a transshipment
point for Iranian supply of Hizballah in Lebanon, and although Syrian offi cials
have publicly condemned terrorism, they continue to distinguish between
terrorism and what they view as legitimate resistance against Israel.
Nonetheless, Syria has cooperated with the United States against al-Qaida and
other extremist Islamic terrorist groups and has made efforts to limit the
movement of anti-Coalition fighters into Iraq.
State sponsors of terrorism impede the efforts of the
United States and the international community to fight terrorism. These
countries provide a critical foundation for terrorist groups. Without state
sponsors, terrorist groups would have a much more difficult time obtaining the
funds, weapons, materials, and secure areas they require to plan and conduct
operations. The United States will continue to insist that these countries end
the support they give to terrorist groups.
Iran
Iran remained the most active state sponsor of
terrorism in 2003. Its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of
Intelligence and Security were involved in the
planning of and support for terrorist acts and continued to exhort a variety of
groups that use terrorism to pursue their goals.
Iran’s record against al-Qaida remains mixed. After
the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, some al-Qaida members fled to
Iran where they have found virtual safehaven. Iranian officials have
acknowledged that Tehran detained al-Qaida operatives during 2003, including
senior members. Iran’s publicized presentation of a list to the United Nations
of deportees, however, was accompanied by a refusal to publicly identify senior
members in Iranian custody on the grounds of “security.” Iran has resisted calls
to transfer custody of its al-Qaida detainees to their countries of origin or
third countries for further interrogation and trial.
During 2003, Iran maintained a high-profile role in
encouraging anti-Israeli activity, both rhetorically and operationally. Supreme
Leader Khamenei praised Palestinian resistance operations, and President Khatami
reiterated Iran’s support for the “wronged people of Palestine” and their
struggles. Matching this rhetoric with action, Iran provided Lebanese Hizballah
and Palestinian rejectionist groups -- notably HAMAS, the Palestine Islamic
Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command --
with funding, safehaven, training, and weapons. Iran hosted a conference in
August 2003 on the Palestinian intifadah, at which an Iranian official
suggested that the continued success of the Palestinian resistance depended on
suicide operations.
Iran pursued a variety of policies in Iraq aimed at
securing Tehran’s perceived interests there, some of which ran counter to those
of the Coalition. Iran has indicated support for the Iraqi Governing Council and
promised to help Iraqi reconstruction.
Shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein, individuals
with ties to the Revolutionary Guard may have attempted to infiltrate southern
Iraq, and elements of the Iranian Government have helped members of Ansar
al-Islam transit and find safehaven in Iran. In a Friday Prayers sermon in
Tehran in May, Guardian Council member Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati publicly
encouraged Iraqis to follow the Palestinian model and participate in suicide
operations against Coalition forces.
Iran is a party to five of the 12 international
conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.
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