Sept 11 report is ‘poll fodder’: Iran

‘‘And unlike the people who created Al Qaeda, Iran has fought them in a practical way,’’ he said, referring to past links between the United States and Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. The US Commission investigating the September 11, 2001 suicide plane attacks alleged Iranian operatives maintained contacts with Al Qaeda for years and may have provided transit for at least eight of the 19 hijackers.

The Commission had said that ‘‘intelligence indicates the persistence of contacts between Iranian security officials and senior Al Qaeda figures’’ after Laden returned to Afghanistan from Sudan in 1996. But is also said it found ‘‘no evidence’’ that Iran was aware of the planning for the terror attacks on the US.

Meanwhile, Iran was threatened with international legal proceedings and possible Canadian sanctions after its hardline judiciary acquitted the sole defendant accused of the killing in custody of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi.

‘‘The investigation was flawed and the court overlooked these,’’ complained Nobel Peace prize winner and lawyer Shirin Ebadi, representing Kazemi’s family. ‘‘I will follow the case until my last breath,’’ she said. ‘‘I hope this case is solved in Iran. But if it is not, I will use all international options in order to see justice done.’’