Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman responsible for the investigation into the 1994 bombing of a Jewish institution in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people and which points as culprits to several Iranian officials said he will step down if those Iranians named in the report “surrender to face trial”.
In a brief but extremely aggressive release the Iranian Foreign Ministry rejected point blank the report from Argentine Prosecutor Alberto Nisman whom they described as “Zionist” and denied all allegations that Tehran has infiltrated nine South American countries to commit terrorist acts.
Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman met on Thursday with Interpol top officials and said he received ‘very strong support’ for the memorandum signed with Iran, which includes the questioning of those allegedly involved in the 1994 attack on the Jewish organization AMIA in Buenos Aires that killed 85 and left dozens injured.
Two suspects in the bombing of the AMIA Jewish centre in Buenos Aires are candidates in Iran’s presidential election. Mohsen Rezai and Ali Akbar Velayati, who are believed to have planned the 1994 attack, were among the eight candidates approved for the June 14 election by Iran’s Guardian Council to succeed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The business representative of the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires Alí Pakdaman announced on Monday that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad endorsed without Congress approval the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Argentina and Tehran in order to investigate the AMIA Jewish centre bombing which killed 85 people in 1994.
Argentina’s Rafael Grossi has resigned as assistant director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), sparking speculation as to whether his exit might be linked to Argentina’s agreement earlier this year with Iran.
Amid tensions surrounding the Argentina/Iran Memorandum of Understanding over the AMIA case, Argentina has voted against the Tehran regime at the United Nations Human Rights Council that will keep investigating reports of human rights violations in the Islamic Republic. Venezuela on the other hand supported the Iran position.
Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman showed his “gratitude” to Interpol legal counsellor Ronald Noble for the letter he sent to Buenos Aires considering the recently approved Memorandum of Understanding signed with Iran “positive.”
Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman revealed that the Argentine government had received on Friday morning a letter from Interpol stressing that the memorandum of understanding signed between the Argentine and Iranian governments last month meant a “positive progress” for the investigation of the AMIA bombing.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Sunday a recent agreement between Iran and Argentina to set up a truth commission to investigate the 1994 AMIA Jewish centre bombing has been submitted to the Majlis for approval.