London-The Argentine Federal Court has asked Singapore and Malaysia to arrest former Iranian foreign minister and adviser of Supreme leader Ali Khamenei Ali Akbar Velayati, whom it accuses of involvement in the 1994 bombing that killed 85 people and injured 300 at the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.
Argentine Judge Rodolfo Canicoba told the Associated Press that his request to arrest Velayati seeks to reinforce existing arrest orders; However a source informed Agence France Presse that Canicoba sent his request after learning that Velayati is visiting Singapore and Malaysia. In November 2006, Interpol issued a warrant to arrest Velayati for conducting state terrorism.
Neither Singapore nor Malaysia replied to the Argentina court request nor did the Iranian Foreign Ministry comment.
Velayati denies being involved in the AMIA bombing. In 2013, Iran approved the visit of five Argentina judges to Tehran to investigate with Iranian officials, but this has not been accomplished yet.
Argentina accuses Iran and the so-called Hezbollah of having a role in the AMIA bombing; the Interpol arrest warrant includes five Iranian officials, mainly, Chairman of Expediency Discernment Council Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and former IRGC chief Mohsen Rezaei. Despite attempts, Iran failed to remove these names from the Interpol wanted list.
The lead prosecutor in the case, Alberto Nisman, accused Iranian officials of being involved in AMIA after expanded investigations as well as accusing then-president Cristina Kirchner of ignoring the case to pass an oil agreement with Iran.
In January 2015, Nisman was found dead one day before submitting a report on this matter. In February 2016, the Argentina Court announced resumption of investigations.
Argentine Judge Rodolfo Canicoba told the Associated Press that his request to arrest Velayati seeks to reinforce existing arrest orders; However a source informed Agence France Presse that Canicoba sent his request after learning that Velayati is visiting Singapore and Malaysia. In November 2006, Interpol issued a warrant to arrest Velayati for conducting state terrorism.
Neither Singapore nor Malaysia replied to the Argentina court request nor did the Iranian Foreign Ministry comment.
Velayati denies being involved in the AMIA bombing. In 2013, Iran approved the visit of five Argentina judges to Tehran to investigate with Iranian officials, but this has not been accomplished yet.
Argentina accuses Iran and the so-called Hezbollah of having a role in the AMIA bombing; the Interpol arrest warrant includes five Iranian officials, mainly, Chairman of Expediency Discernment Council Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and former IRGC chief Mohsen Rezaei. Despite attempts, Iran failed to remove these names from the Interpol wanted list.
The lead prosecutor in the case, Alberto Nisman, accused Iranian officials of being involved in AMIA after expanded investigations as well as accusing then-president Cristina Kirchner of ignoring the case to pass an oil agreement with Iran.
In January 2015, Nisman was found dead one day before submitting a report on this matter. In February 2016, the Argentina Court announced resumption of investigations.
