A high court in Argentina declared on Thursday that Iran was behind the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which resulted in the deaths of 85 people. This ruling may allow the victims’ families to seek justice against Iran in international courts.
While Argentine investigators have long suspected Iranian involvement in the attack, this recent decision by Argentina’s second-highest court holds the Iranian state directly responsible for the bombing.
The ruling also labeled Iran as a terrorist state, particularly significant given the current tensions between Iran and Israel. Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel for a recent bombing in Syria that killed top Iranian commanders.
The court stated that the 1994 attack in Buenos Aires was orchestrated by the authorities of the Islamic State of Iran in collaboration with Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
In addition, the judges attributed blame to Iran for the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, which resulted in the deaths of 22 people. These attacks were reportedly in response to Argentina canceling contracts to provide nuclear material to Iran.
Despite Iran’s denials of involvement, the court’s ruling affirms the long-held belief of the Argentine Jewish Mutual Aid Association that Iran was responsible for the attacks.
The ruling also opens the possibility for victims’ families to pursue claims against Iran in international tribunals, though the specific legal avenues are still being considered.
This development is the latest in a complex investigation marred by allegations of cover-ups and controversies, including the suspicious death of a special prosecutor in 2015 who had accused then-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of conspiring with Iran to conceal its role in the attack.
The current government under President Javier Milei, a strong ally of Israel, welcomed the court’s ruling as a step towards ending decades of delays and obfuscation in seeking justice for the victims.
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