Argentina Demands Arrest of Iran's Interior Minister Over 1994 Jewish Center Bombing

Argentina has formally requested Interpol to arrest Iran's interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi, for his alleged role in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.

The attack, which was the deadliest in Argentina's history, has long been linked to Iran and its proxy group Hezbollah, though it has never been claimed or solved.

Argentina has urged Pakistan and Sri Lanka to apprehend Vahidi, who is currently part of an Iranian delegation visiting those countries. Vahidi is subject to a red alert issued by Interpol at Argentina's request following a recent Argentine court ruling that formally blamed Iran for the attack and called it a "crime against humanity".

Vahidi, who was the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force at the time of the bombing, is believed to be one of the masterminds behind the attack. In 2006, Argentine courts requested the extradition of eight Iranians, including Vahidi, in connection with the bombing. Iran has denied any involvement and dismissed the Argentine court's ruling as "baseless and unsubstantiated claims".

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman has urged Argentina to avoid "baseless accusations" and not be influenced by "enemies" of Iran-Argentina relations. However, it is unlikely that Pakistan will cooperate with Argentina's request given the strengthening cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in an anti-Israel axis.

Why this matters: The 1994 AMIA bombing remains a highly sensitive issue for Argentina's Jewish community, which is the largest in Latin America. The case has been marked by long delays and accusations of political interference, with no one yet convicted for the attack. Argentina's renewed efforts to seek justice and hold Iran accountable could strain diplomatic relations between the two countries and impact regional geopolitics.

The Argentine government's decision to issue an international arrest warrant for Vahidi marks a significant development in the long-running investigation into the AMIA bombing. As stated by Argentine Chief of Staff Juan Manzur, "We are determined that all those responsible for the AMIA attack that left 85 Argentines dead are brought to justice." However, with Vahidi back in Iran after his visit to Pakistan, it remains to be seen if Argentina's latest efforts will yield any tangible results in bringing the perpetrators of the deadly attack to justice nearly three decades later.

Key Takeaways

• Argentina requests Interpol to arrest Iranian minister Ahmad Vahidi for 1994 AMIA bombing.
• Vahidi was commander of Iran's IRGC Quds Force at time of attack that killed 85 people.
• Argentina urges Pakistan, Sri Lanka to apprehend Vahidi during his visit to those countries.
• Iran denies involvement, calls Argentine court's ruling "baseless"; Pakistan unlikely to cooperate.
• AMIA bombing remains a sensitive issue for Argentina's Jewish community, with no one convicted.