WASHINGTON, Jan 17: Osama bin Laden’s son Saad, reportedly a prominent figure in the relationship between Iran and Al Qaeda, has left that country and is believed to be in Pakistan, according to US intelligence.

“The person you are talking about (Saad bin Laden) has left Iran. He’s not there. He’s probably in Pakistan,” Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell told reporters on Friday.

Saad bin Laden was reported to have been living in Iran since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 that ousted the Taliban government. He is believed to have been under house arrest in recent years, but some reports say he also may have acted as an intermediary with Iran.

The US government lists him as having been born in 1982. The United States and Saudi Arabia have sought the repatriation of Al Qaeda members in Iran.

A US counterterrorism official described the younger Bin Laden as “a very well-connected apprentice terrorist”.

Mr McConnell declined to say whether there was any deal that led to Saad bin Laden’s relocation, and the counterterrorism official said the circumstances of his departure from Iran were unclear.

—Reuters