Iran reaffirms support for Ahmad Vahidi, AMIA bombing suspect

The Iranian Parliament has strongly backed defense minister-designate, in defiance of Argentine demands for his arrest over a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires.

Ahmad Vahidi faced no opposition from MPs on the third day of a debate on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s choices for his new cabinet.

Interpol has distributed Argentina’s warrant for his arrest for an attack on the AMIA,  a Jewish Community Centre that killed 85 people.

The lawmakers unanimously backed Vahidi after studying his plan for the enhancement of Iran’s defense capabilities if he is granted the vote of confidence by the parliament.

Vahidi highlighted the country’s future strategy of defense system by gaining superiority in missile capabilities.

He said “Iran has acquired high strength in military and defense industry.” Meanwhile, he said “The Zionist regime (Israel) is the ugliest in the world.”

Argentina has complained in late August over President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s nomination of Vahidi for defense minister in his new cabinet.