Timerman: 'all suspects will be questioned' but admits some could refuse to do so

As Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman defended the agreement between Argentina and Iran, the Senate analyzed whether to pass or not an accord that looks to investigate the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre in 1994.

Timerman testified before the Senate Foreign Relations committee and the AMIA and DAIA organizations.

Timerman assured that “everyone flagged by INTERPOL will be interrogated by the Argentine judicial authorities and under the Argentine law.

The minister made this clarification after Iranian officials expressed that one of the main suspects, current Iranian minister Ahmad Vahidi, will not undergo an interrogation. Tehran’s position caused renewed criticism by the Jewish-Argentine community and Israel against the agreement.

Timerman made these statements after Iran confirmed later that it would comply with all the articles in the memorandum.

“The memo will allow the case to move forward,” Timerman said, adding that “Iran didn’t use to cooperate but is now willing to do so.”

At the same time, he urged lawmakers “not to fantasize” since there are “no secret clauses or dark interests with Iran.”

Three Senate committees began today to debate the agreement signed between the Argentine and Iranian governments to jointly investigate the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires.

Timerman opened the meeting between the Foreign Affairs, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Committees with an explanation of the details of the deal.

After an Iranian official yesterday rejected Iran’s Defence Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, would be questioned in the investigation of the AMIA bombing under the truth commission, Timerman today ratified that all who are involved in the attack will be questioned, stressing that Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi yesterday said that "both sides are committed to the agreement."

The president of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Daniel Filmus (Victory Front), said earlier that “the meeting will allow attendees to ask the foreign minister questions over certain characteristics regarding the agreement, as well addressing other members of different organizations.”