An Argentine court has ruled that Iran is responsible for the deadly 1994 bombing of the Jewish center of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) in Buenos Aires. This decision came more than three decades after the attack, claiming 85 lives and injuring 300 people. The court attributed the blame to Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah, marking a significant breakthrough in the search for justice for the victims.

The ruling classified the attack on the AMIA as a “crime against humanity” and implicated former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and other senior officials in ordering the attack. Although Iran denies involvement, the evidence, including intercepted phone calls and witness testimony, points to Iranian complicity.

The President of the Delegation of Israeli Associations of Argentina (DAIA) welcomed the decision and stated that it could open the way for victims to seek justice at the international level, potentially through the International Criminal Court.

The legal proceedings surrounding the bombings have been plagued by accusations of a cover-up, corruption and obstruction of justice. Former Argentine President Carlos Menem, in office during the attacks, faced a trial to cover up the attack on the AMIA, but was finally acquitted. His former intelligence chief received a prison sentence for obstruction of the investigation.

The case brought to light the complex intersections of politics, diplomacy and terrorism, with revelations of secret negotiations and alleged trade agreements between Argentina and Iran.

Efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable continue, with international arrest warrants issued against Hezbollah members. However, achieving justice for the victims remains a tremendous challenge amid ongoing legal complexities and diplomatic sensitivities.