(JTA) — The Iranian Parliament approved the nomination of a suspect in the bombing of an Argentine Jewish center to be the country’s new defense minister.
Ahmad Vahidi, who is wanted by Interpol in connection with the 1994 bombing of the AMIA center in Buenos Aires that killed 85, was unanimously approved by the parliament. Lawmakers chanted "Death to Israel" as Vahidi spoke to the body after Thursday’s vote, according to media reports.
In an address to the Parliament after his election, Vahidi acknowledged that Israel may try to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, but said that "Every move from the Zionist entity against Iran will be met with a harsh and powerful response from Iran."
Ynet quoted Vahidi as saying that his appointment was a "testimony of the anti-Zionist spirit of the Iranian Parliament and Iranian people" and that "Zionist propaganda always creates the opposite reaction in the Iranian government."
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