Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Iran Summons 5 Argentines on Security Charges

By VOA News
16 August 2007

Iranian media say authorities have summoned five Argentine officials to appear in court to face charges of undermining Iran's security.

The five Argentines were involved in an investigation that implicated Iran in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires. The attack killed 85 people and wounded about 300.

Iranian media say the Argentines face several charges, including fabricating a case against Iran's government.

The reports say the five officials have been informed of the court summons through diplomatic channels.

Iranian media say international arrest warrants will be issued if the Argentines do not travel to Iran to face the charges.

An Argentina prosecutor said last year there was evidence that Iran's senior leadership ordered Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to attack the Jewish center.

Iran and Hezbollah have repeatedly denied any involvement in the Buenos Aires bombing.

No one has been convicted in the attack, which was the deadliest in Argentina's history.

Iranian media say the five officials summoned to Iran include a former Argentine interior minister, a former judge, a former Argentine Jewish leader and two former prosecutors.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.