Iranian Diplomats Sought in Argentine Car-Bombing

Argentina has issued international arrest warrants for four Iranian diplomats in connection with the car-bombing of a Jewish community center that killed nearly 100 people.

Iranian Ambassador Hadi Soleimanpour arrived at the Argentine Foreign Ministry on Wednesday to be notified that a worldwide hunt is on for the four officials. The warrants were issued largely on the basis of testimony from a disaffected Iranian under Venezuelan custody.

President Carlos Saul Menem has threatened to expel Soleimanpour for his country’s alleged role in the July 18 blast.

Iran has denied any involvement in the attack that razed the headquarters of Argentina’s main Jewish groups. In a letter Wednesday to the Argentine charge d’affaires in Tehran, Iran said it “registers its strong protest against defaming Iranian dignitaries and officials.”