Argentine Court Orders Trial for 8 Suspects in 1994 Jewish Center Bombing

An Argentine court has formally charged seven Iranians and one Lebanese national with involvement in the 1994 bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, a historic legal development in Latin America’s deadliest terror case. The ruling, issued by Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas, targets prime suspects who remain at large three decades after the attack on the AMIA Jewish community center, which killed 85 people and injured more than 300.

The court found that the attack, described as “a crime against humanity,” was ordered by the highest echelons of the Iranian regime and carried out by the Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist group. Among the eight suspects ordered to stand trial are former Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahijan, former Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Velayati, and Lebanese Hezbollah operative Salman Raouf Salman.

Iran has refused to extradite the suspects. The court has placed a $500 million lien on each of the accused. Judge Rafecas also noted a potential connection between the AMIA bombing and the 1992 attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, which killed 22 people.

Given that all suspects remain at large, Argentina is utilizing a legal mechanism approved last year to try defendants in absentia. Justice Minister Juan Bautista Mahiques called the order a "milestone in the fight against impunity" and "a historic step in favor of the 85 victims, their families and all of Argentine society." President Javier Milei welcomed the announcement, stating, "Morality as state policy!"

Argentina has long alleged that senior Iranian officials, operating through Hezbollah, were responsible for the attack. However, decades of investigations marred by corruption and Iran's refusal to extradite suspects have prevented any convictions to date.

Argentine Ambassador to Israel Axel Wahnish described the legal action as "a moment of justice" after thirty years. "While previous governments signed a memorandum with Iran to cover up the terrorist attacks, we signed a memorandum with Israel in defense of life and democracy and against terrorism and antisemitism," Wahnish said. "Under the leadership of President Javier Milei, Argentina has left the axis of evil behind to align itself with the side of good."