Dr. Z, what legitimacy do you think Ijaz has in this matter. He intimated that his source was someone in Iran's "Intelligence" community, but how did he develop those?
He is an American born finaceer of Pakistani heritage. His only diplomatic experience was in The Sudan.
I don't believe the story. If Bin Laden were alive, and protected by Iranian Security Services and the Clerics, he would have produced video statements that provided unequivocal current event evidence that he is alive and well.
I don't think the motives of the Iranian government, as explained by Ijaz on Britt Hume, add up. That's too high a level of intrigue in Tehran, too great a risk for even the Clerics to openly assume.
I certainly don't know his intellegence sources, but I believe you are mistaken that Mansour Ijaz said his source was from with Iran's intelligence community.
I heard him say that intelligence sources inside of Iran had confirmed that Bin Laden there.
My reading of that statement was that this was referring to some other nation's intelligence service.
Ijaz further stated that Bin Laden had shaven his head, gained a lot of weight, etc in order to disquise himself. If this is accurate it could explain why he hasn't done any video tapes.
Finally, the Iranian goverment has confirmed that members of Al Qaida are in Iran. It is reasonable to assume that the mullahs of Iran are using them as a bargining chip with the US if things get desperate for them. The mullahs are no fools, they are very skilled in deception and negotiation.