Iran Released 5 Top Al Qaeda Terrorists (Q post 2374 picture named AQ5.png) Iran released five top Al Qaeda terrorists in a swap with the terror group's branch in Yemen, an American official revealed Thursday night - including one with a $5 million bounty on his head.  The five were released in March 2015, the official said, possibly in exchange for an Iranian diplomat being held in the embattled country. According to the New York Times, the five prisoners included: Al Qaeda expert Michael S. Smith II of Kronos Advisory revealed to the Times that the five had been moved to Iran to ensure their safety following the September 11 attacks; Al Qaeda believed the change would afford them greater security and anonymity. It is unclear when the five were taken into Iranian custody, but all apparently had maintained contact with Al Qaeda from behind prison walls.  The Iranian government has denied the swap ever took place, despite a Sky News report exposing the deal earlier this week.  note: the site source below is external, from Israel news. But it was the only one giving the names I found. Source 1: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/18/world/middleeast/iran-released-top-members-of-al-qaeda-in-a-trade.html Source 2: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/200822