NOS News•today, 3:14 PM
The Argentine government wants the Iranian interior minister arrested. Ahmad Vahidi is responsible for the 1994 attack on a Jewish cultural center in the capital Buenos Aires, according to Argentina. 94 people were killed and another 300 were injured.
Vahdi was at the time responsible for the Quds Force, the special branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards responsible for special military operations abroad. In that capacity, according to Argentina, he allegedly ordered the attack.
Foreign trip
Argentina’s request comes at a striking time, because the Iranian minister would visit Pakistan and Sri Lanka with a delegation these days. Those countries have been asked by the international police organization Interpol to arrest him, but they are not obliged to do so.
It is not clear whether this is the case, because the Iranian news agency Irna writes that Vahidi was in Iran today. It is unknown whether he returned from the trip earlier or if he did not leave at all.
The Argentine request comes two weeks after a ruling by the country’s highest court, which ruled that Iran was responsible for the massacre.
During the attack on July 18, 1994, a suicide bomber in Buenos Aires set off a heavy bomb that was in a van. The bus was parked in the main building of the city’s Jewish community. A huge explosion followed, completely destroying the seven-story building. Almost all victims were Jewish. It remains the deadliest attack in Argentine history.
Hezbollah
Argentina, but also the United States and Israel, hold terrorist organization Hezbollah responsible for the attack. In the background, Iran is said to have played an important role as a client. Hezbollah and Iran have always denied having anything to do with it and there was never a conviction.
That probably had to do with the political situation in Argentina. Several presidents are said to have frustrated the investigation into the attack. President Menem, who came to power in 1994, is said to have received Iranian bribes. His then intelligence chief was convicted in that case. Later, the investigation was not a priority because Argentina and Iran wanted to strengthen economic ties.
