Why it matters:
The AMIA bombing case has long been a source of tension in Iran-Argentina relations. Tehran sees the Argentine judiciary's decision to issue charges against Iranian officials as an act of politicization influenced by external actors, particularly the Israeli regime. The diplomatic protest signals a potential escalation in bilateral tensions.
What he's saying:
Issa Kameli, Director General of the Americas Department at Iran’s Foreign Ministry, summoned Argentina’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran to formally deliver a note of protest. Kameli stressed that the Argentine prosecutor's move to level allegations against Iranian officials concerning the 1994 AMIA bombing represents a “diversionary tactic” and a politically motivated action that further derails the prolonged legal process.
Kameli asserted that this case—originally centered around a tragic but suspicious incident—has become heavily manipulated under the continuous influence of Zionist lobbies. He said the action contravenes fundamental principles of international law, including the sovereign equality and political independence of states.
Key points:
- The Foreign Ministry emphasized Iran’s sovereign right to respond within the framework of international law.
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Argentina has for decades accused Iranian officials of involvement in the 1994 AMIA bombing without presenting definitive legal evidence, according to international legal observers and some former Argentine officials.
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In 2013, Argentina and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly investigate the AMIA case, suggesting Argentina at one point recognized the need for cooperation rather than confrontation. However, the MoU was later nullified under political pressure from Israeli-aligned groups.
Go deeper:
The 1994 AMIA bombing, which killed 85 people at a Jewish center in Buenos Aires, has remained unresolved for decades. The most recent development is viewed by Tehran as another attempt to derail fair judicial investigation and use the tragedy for anti-Iranian political purposes.
ahmad shirzadian
