Argentina processes eight suspects for 1994 AMIA bombing

Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas has ordered the indictment of eight individuals for the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires, which resulted in 85 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The suspects, who are currently fugitives, include seven Iranian nationals and one Lebanese national. They face charges of homicide and repeated injuries aggravated by racial or religious hatred.

The indicted individuals include alleged intellectual authors Alí Fallahijan, former Iranian Intelligence Minister; Alí Velayati, former Foreign Minister; Mohsen Rezai, former commander of the Revolutionary Guard; and Ahmad Vahidi, former commander of the Al Quds Force. Accomplices include Hadi Soleimanpour, former Iranian ambassador to Argentina; Mohsen Rabbani, former cultural counselor; and Ahmad Asghari, a former intelligence agent. The eighth accused is Salman Raouf Salman, a Hezbollah agent allegedly responsible for the final coordination of the attack.

This move seeks to facilitate the first trial in absentia in Argentine history, following a ruling by the Federal Chamber of Criminal Cassation that validated the constitutionality of the process. While the defense has raised concerns regarding the right to a defense, the prosecution maintains the legality of the proceedings. The trial is estimated to begin between 2027 and 2028.