Argentina: Do Not Host Iranian Accused in AMIA Bombing Case

Mauricio Macri, the President of Argentina, has urged his country's allies not to host or protect senior officials of the Islamic Republic who are wanted in connection with the bombing case at the Jewish center in Buenos Aires. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has once again rejected Argentina's accusations. Mr. Macri stated during a public gathering at the United Nations in New York that his country will continue its efforts to arrest and convict all those accused of the bombings at the Jewish center, 'AMIA', and the bombing in front of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires. He said, '25 years have passed since the AMIA bombing. I would like to once again ask the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate with the judicial authorities of Argentina to advance the investigation into this terrorist attack on our soil.' The President of Argentina added, 'We ask friendly countries to accompany us and refrain from granting diplomatic immunity and hosting those named in the AMIA case for whom Interpol has issued red notices.' During the bombings in Buenos Aires, in front of the Israeli embassy and at the 'AMIA' center, at least 107 people were killed and hundreds were injured in the years 1992 and 1994. The AMIA bombing claimed the lives of at least 85 people. Subsequently, Argentine judicial officials accused Hezbollah of Lebanon of planning and executing the AMIA bombing on Iran's orders. They also named several Iranian officials as defendants in this case, including Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the then President of Iran, and Ali Akbar Velayati, who was the Foreign Minister at that time. Several years after the AMIA bombing, an international arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Velayati and several other officials of the Islamic Republic at the time. Iran has consistently denied these accusations. In response to the recent statements of the Argentine President, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that the Islamic Republic 'strongly condemns terrorist acts anywhere in the world and in any form. In this regard, Tehran has repeatedly condemned the AMIA bombing since it occurred and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.' While Mauricio Macri has asked Buenos Aires' allies not to host wanted Iranians, a recent Argentine judge requested Russia to arrest Ali Akbar Velayati during his visit to Moscow. This request was made in July during Mr. Velayati's trip to deliver a message from Ayatollah Khamenei and Hassan Rouhani to Vladimir Putin, which Moscow ignored.