Russia Denies Pompeo Allegation of Links Between Iran, Al-Qaeda

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that there is no evidence of Iran's ties with terrorist group al-Qaeda after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made such an accusation.

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"It seems that Mr. Pompeo, before the last curtain call, wanted to do something more to hurt Iran. Nonetheless, this is absolutely unsubstantiated and unreasonable," said Zamir Kabulov, director of the ministry's second Asian department.

There is "absolutely no information" proving that Tehran has ties with al-Qaeda, the Russian diplomat said in an interview with RIA Novosti news agency.

Pompeo on Tuesday alleged that Iran had become a "new home base" for al-Qaeda, doubling down the maximum pressure campaign against Iran before leaving office in less than ten days.