Argentina’s Reaction to Khamenei’s Death

Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, expressed his views on the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, calling him one of history’s “most evil, violent, and cruel figures.” His remarks followed a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation that led to Khamenei’s demise.

Milei issued an official statement lauding the military strikes that targeted various Iranian missile facilities and prominent figures associated with the regime. This action resulted in Khamenei’s death, which was later confirmed by President Donald Trump.

In his statement, Milei noted that Khamenei’s actions not only harmed the Iranian populace but also had far-reaching global effects. He pointed out that Argentina has been a target of Iranian terrorism, specifically referencing the bombing of the Argentine-Israel Mutual Association (AMIA) in 1994. On that tragic day, a vehicle loaded with explosives was detonated in Buenos Aires, killing 85 people and injuring many others.

The AMIA bombing was noted as the most lethal terrorist incident in the Western Hemisphere before the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Fast-forwarding to 2024, an Argentine court held Iran and its militant ally Hezbollah accountable for both the AMIA bombing and the earlier bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires. The court described the AMIA attack as an act of international terrorism orchestrated at high levels of the Iranian government and executed by Hezbollah.

Milei highlighted that seeking justice for the 85 AMIA victims is a national priority and pledged to continue until those responsible face consequences.

He concluded his statement with hopes that the recent military action would lead to the end of more than four decades of oppression and human rights violations in Iran, allowing the Iranian people to restore peace and democracy.

Since taking office in December 2023, Milei, a strong proponent of President Trump, has shifted Argentina’s foreign policy to align closely with the United States and Israel. This change comes after nearly 20 years of socialist leadership that leaned towards Iran and other anti-American governments.

In January, Milei labeled the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Quds Force as a terrorist entity and announced Argentina’s intention to arrest former Iranian interior minister Ahmad Vahidi. A court in Argentina identified Vahidi as a key figure in orchestrating the 1990s attacks on Jewish targets in Buenos Aires.