Argentina to Try Iranians and Lebanese in Absentia for 1994 Jewish Center Bombing

More than three decades after the bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires claimed 85 lives, an Argentine federal judge has authorized the trial in absentia of ten suspects accused of orchestrating and executing the attack. This legal decision marks a significant shift in Argentina’s approach to long-standing terrorism cases involving foreign nationals who have evaded justice for years.

On Thursday, Judge Daniel Rafecas approved a request from the prosecutor’s office overseeing the investigation into the 1994 bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building. This development follows the passage of new legislation earlier this year permitting trials in absentia for fugitives. The law was championed by President Javier Milei, who has expressed strong support for Israel and taken a firm stance against Iran, a nation widely suspected of involvement in the attack.

Legal Shift Enables Progress in a Stalled Investigation

For decades, Argentine judicial authorities have sought the apprehension of seven Iranian and three Lebanese nationals implicated in the bombing, which remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentina’s history. Previous efforts to secure their extradition through Interpol red notices failed to produce arrests, as the individuals were protected by their respective governments or had moved without consequence.

The legal landscape changed in 2024 when President Milei’s administration pushed through a bill authorizing trials in absentia. This move enabled Argentina to bypass the physical absence of the suspects and bring formal charges to court. Judge Rafecas emphasized the importance of holding a trial, even without the presence of the accused, to allow for a transparent examination of evidence and to offer victims’ families a platform to seek justice.

The suspects facing trial include prominent figures from Iran’s political and security establishment during the early 1990s. Among them are former Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahian, former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei, and Ali Akbar Velayati, a former foreign minister who now serves as an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader. On the Lebanese side, the accused include Salman Raouf Salman, alleged to have coordinated the attack, along with Abdallah Salman and Hussein Mounir Mouzannar, all believed to be affiliated with Hezbollah.

Background and Geopolitical Context

The AMIA bombing on July 18, 1994, killed 85 people and injured hundreds, shaking Argentina’s Jewish community and prompting widespread international condemnation. It came two years after a similar attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires that left 22 dead. Argentina’s investigations were hampered for years by mismanagement, corruption, and political interference, and no convictions have been secured in relation to the attacks.

In 2023, an Argentine appeals court concluded that the Iranian government had planned the AMIA attack and Hezbollah operatives had executed it. Iran continues to reject allegations of involvement, maintaining that the accusations are politically motivated.

President Milei has made advancing the AMIA case a foreign policy priority. During a visit to Israel in June 2025, he reinforced Argentina’s alliance with the Israeli government. That trip occurred just before Israel began a series of strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure and nuclear facilities, signaling a broader escalation in regional tensions.

In a recent statement, Milei described Iran as a hostile actor and reiterated his full support for Israel’s actions. His government has sought closer coordination with Israeli and Western intelligence agencies, viewing the prosecution of the AMIA case as a symbolic stand against terrorism and impunity.