| (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s nomination of Ahmad Vahidi, sought in connection with the 1994 bombing of the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association (AMIA), for Defense Minister of the Iranian regime. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“Ahmadinejad’s appointment of Vahidi – wanted by the Argentine government for his alleged role in the AMIA attack – confirms that violent extremism is an accepted and integral part of Iranian policy.
“Responsible nations should also implement the INTERPOL Red Notice and arrest Vahidi the moment he steps outside Iran.
“All U.S. unilateral overtures to the Iranian regime should come to an end. Instead, the U.S. and other responsible nations should use the upcoming UN session in September to push forward with stronger, comprehensive sanctions against Tehran.”
Background: Vahidi and four other Iranian officials were placed on INTERPOL’s most wanted list for their suspected roles in the 1994 AMIA attack, which killed 85 people and injured hundreds. The State Prosecutor of Argentina has concluded that the attack was approved in advance by Iran’s ‘Supreme Leader’ and other top Iranian officials, and was carried out by a member of Hezbollah. Vahidi is also a former commander of the Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Note: Ros-Lehtinen is the author of the Iran Threat Reduction Act (H.R. 1208), which would apply economic and political pressure against the Iranian regime to compel it to stop its pursuit of unconventional weapons and missile capabilities, as well as its sponsorship of violent extremism. This bill enjoys the support of over 115 cosponsors. Ros-Lehtinen also authored H. Con. Res. 156, a bipartisan resolution commemorating the 15th anniversary of the AMIA attack. The House passed that resolution unanimously last month.
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