Full Breakdown
Argentine Judge Moves Forward with In-Absentia Trial of Iranian and Hezbollah Suspects in 1994 Asociacion Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) Bombing
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The Indictment and Legal Framework
Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas issued a 648-page ruling charging eight individuals—seven Iranians and one Lebanese—for the July 18 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires. The indictment classifies the attack as a crime against humanity and genocide. Each defendant faces a US $500 million lien.
The charges are pursued under Law 27,784 (2025), which allows trials in absentia for terrorism, genocide and crimes against humanity when due-process rights are protected. The accused remain abroad; the ruling notes they have been notified and that extradition requests have been made.
Background & Context
The AMIA bombing killed 85 people and damaged the seven-story Jewish community centre, the deadliest antisemitic attack in Latin America. A 1992 Israeli embassy bombing in Buenos Aires, which killed 29, has also been linked to Iran and Hezbollah. Political interference and the 2015 death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman stalled the case for years. A 2024 court affirmation of Iran and Hezbollah’s responsibility enabled the 2025 reform that now permits a trial without the defendants’ physical presence.
Key Figures Charged
- Ali Fallahijan – former Iranian Minister of Intelligence
- Ali Akbar Velayati – former Iranian Foreign Minister
- Mohsen Rezaei – former IRGC commander-in-chief
- Ahmad Vahidi – IRGC commander-in-chief at the time
- Hadi Soleimanpor – Iran’s ambassador to Argentina in 1994
- Mohsen Rabbani – cultural attaché in Buenos Aires
- Ahmad Reza Asghari – Revolutionary Guard intelligence agent
- Salman Raouf Salman – Lebanese Hezbollah operative, alleged coordinator of the final attack stage
Two other suspects were cleared for lack of evidence.
Data & Statistics
- Fatalities: 85
- Injuries: reports range from “over 300” to 151
- Explosives: ~300 kg of ammonal and TNT in a Renault Trafic van
- Asset freeze: US $500 million lien per defendant
Official Statements & Responses
President Javier Milei welcomed the ruling on social media, calling it “Morality as state policy.” Justice Minister Juan Bautista Mahiques called the decision “a historic step.” The Jewish umbrella organization DAIA praised the move as progress toward truth and justice. Iran denies involvement and refuses extradition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The decision to carry out the attack was made in August 1993 by the highest echelons of the Iranian regime and entrusted to Hezbollah,” — Daniel Rafecas
- “There’s still a whole process to go through,” — Daniel Rafecas
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Injury count: JPost and i24news cite “over 300” injuries; Buenos Aires Herald and Times of Israel report 151.
- Potential link to Panama: Rafecas’s ruling mentions a July 19 1994 airliner bombing in Panama that killed 20 Jewish victims, suggesting a coordinated campaign, but details remain unconfirmed.
What’s Next
The defendants may appeal, and Argentina’s Supreme Court must confirm the trial’s constitutionality. Rafecas has asked the Court to link the AMIA case with the 1992 embassy bombing, which could allow a single judicial process for both attacks. If appeals are exhausted, an oral trial in absentia could begin under Law 27,784.