U.S. State Department Statement on Anniversary of Jewish Center Bombing in Argentina

The U.S. State Department, in a statement on the anniversary of the bombing of the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association (AMIA) building, referred to "Iran's role" in that deadly attack while simultaneously calling for "transparency" regarding the death of Alberto Nisman, the judge overseeing the investigation. In the statement released on July 18, the 23rd anniversary of the AMIA bombing, the U.S. expressed condolences to the victims' families and emphasized the need for justice against those responsible for the bombing. The 1994 explosion at AMIA, a center for Jewish cooperation between Argentina and Israel, resulted in the deaths of eighty-five people and injured approximately three hundred others. Argentina's lengthy investigation concluded that the bombing plot originated in Iran and was executed with the cooperation of Iranian institutions, handed over to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Interpol, years later, issued arrest warrants for several Iranian officials, including Imad Mughniyeh, the then senior operational chief of Hezbollah, for their involvement in the bombing. Ali Fallahian, the then Minister of Intelligence, remains on Interpol's wanted list. However, Fallahian recently denied any involvement in an interview. Heather Nauert, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, reiterated the need to clarify the murder of Judge Alberto Nisman on the anniversary of the AMIA bombing. In January 2015, about twenty-one years after the AMIA bombing, Nisman was found shot dead in his home just hours before he was scheduled to present his final report on the bombing to the Argentine Congress. Nisman had accused several senior Argentine officials, including former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, of covering up the facts. Kirchner, while denying the accusations, stated that Nisman's death was not a suicide but rather that "enemies were using Nisman... and then they concluded that killing Nisman was also in their interest." Meanwhile, Argentine media reported that a memorial service for the AMIA victims was held on July 18 in Argentina. According to these reports, current Argentine government officials stated that a previous agreement made during Kirchner's presidency with then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a joint investigation into the AMIA bombing was "forever" nullified. Current Argentine President Mauricio Macri has vowed to uncover the truth about the bombing and the circumstances surrounding Nisman's murder during his presidency. Reports indicate that Kirchner and her foreign minister Hector Timerman will face trial before the end of 2017 for their alleged involvement in Nisman's murder.