Iran: ‘no concern’ over AMIA deal

As debate continues to rage in Argentina over the validity of the AMIA accord and its ramifications, Iran announced yesterday that it was “unconcerned” about the agreement.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast, the Iranian government is “by no means concerned over the bilateral agreement with Iran aimed at settling the AMIA issue.”

“Such an important agreement will guide Iran-Argentina relations in its appropriate route,” said the spokesperson in his weekly press conference.

Mehmanparast also shifted the blame once more onto Israel, referring to a “threat” made by the latter country that “after such an agreement a third terrorist attack will take place” and responding that “this recent threat showed that the third terrorist attack will be organized either by the Zionist regime (Israel) or those who have relations with that regime.”

OPPOSITION STIRRED

The head of the Lower House majority caucus, Agustín Rossi, also stated yesterday that he was “unconcerned about what will happen with Iran” but was focused on “strengthening the Argentine position” regarding the memorandum.

However, opposition politicians from different parties openly committed yesterday to Jewish community leaders that they would not help Congress reach quorum during the February 27 debate on the memorandum in the Lower House.

The commitment was made by Senator María Eugenia Estenssoro (CC-ARI) and deputies Ricardo Gil Lavedra (UCR), Alfonso Prat-Gay (CC-ARI), Victoria Donda (Free of the South - FAP), Carlos Comi (CC-ARI) and the Secretary General of the Free of the South, Humberto Tumini.

It was presented in written form to the President of DAIA Jewish association Julio Schlosser, and Vice-President Waldo Wolff.

The politicians also said that if the Victory Front managed to achieve quorum, they would vote against the agreement with the Iranian government, stating that “truth and justice are non-negotiable.”

“Not only will we vote against the agreement, but we will also not make it possible for the deal to be approved under any terms, because we think that this is entirely negative for Argentina,” said Gil Lavedra, after the meeting.

Herald with DyN, Ambito.com, IRNA