Release of CIA files seized during Bin Laden raid puts focus on role of Iran

The CIA's release of documents seized during the 2011 raid that killed al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden has again raised questions about Iran's support of the extremist network leading up to the September 11 terror attacks.

US intelligence officials and prosecutors have long said Iran formed loose ties to the terror organisation from 1991 onwards, something noted in a 19-page report in Arabic that was included in the release of some 47,000 other documents by the CIA.