Iran protests over Argentina bomb attack warrants

AFP: Iran has summoned the Buenos Aires envoy to Tehran to protest over arrest warrants issued in Argentina against top Iranian officials over a deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish charity, the government daily Iran reported Sunday. TEHRAN, Nov 19, 2006 (AFP) – Iran has summoned the Buenos Aires envoy to Tehran to protest over arrest warrants issued in Argentina against top Iranian officials over a deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish charity, the government daily Iran reported Sunday.

“(Iran) criticizes the irresponsible action of the Argentine judge and strongly objects to the issuing of such warrants,” Safar Ali Eslamian, a foreign ministry director, was quoted as telling Argentine charge d’affaires Mario Enrique Quinteros.

Argentine judge Rodolfo Canicoba Corral issued international arrest warrants 10 days ago for former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and other former top officials over the bombing of the AMIA Jewish charity building that killed 85 people and injured 300.

“The action taken by the judge is contrary to current international legal and judicial behavior. (Iran) strongly protests and reserves the right to take legal and judicial action,” Eslamian said.

“The overt support of the United States and Israel for the Argentine judge shows the existence of backroom deals for anti-Tehran propaganda,” he added.

Iran had repeatedly said it had no role in the attack and responded to the Argentine arrest orders by issuing its own warrants for Corral and other investigators in the case.