Argentina approves Iran deal over 1994 attack

Argentine lawmakers approved an agreement with Iran to set up a controversial "truth commission" into a deadly 1994 bombing that killed 85 people and wounded 300. The deal has been sharply criticized by Israel, Argentina's Jewish community and opposition politicians. The pro-government bloc backing President Cristina Kirchner in the Chamber of Deputies secured the deal with 131 votes to 113 opposition votes against. The Senate gave its green light last week. Argentina has long suspected Iran of being behind the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish charities building, which came two years after a similar attack on the Israeli embassy. Tehran has denied any involvement. The deal sets up an independent "truth commission" to probe the bombing, which the Argentine government says will pave the way for eight Iranian suspects to be questioned by an Argentine judge. The eight include Iran's Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi, former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and ex-foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati, who have had international arrests warrants out against them since 2006. Iran, however, has insisted none of the suspects will be questioned. The agreement to set up the commission has been sharply criticized by Israel and Argentina's 300,000-strong Jewish community -- the largest in Latin America -- which have called on authorities to continue to try to apprehend the suspects and put them on trial. Hundreds of members of the community gathered in front of Congress in protest, holding up signs that read "No." "What kind of cooperation can we have with (Iran)? The bombing is being debated with the Iranian government, which ordered it," opposition legislator Ricardo Gil Lavedra said during the debate on the bill. The Iranian parliament has yet to approve the agreement.