Iran has appointed Ahmad Reza Asgari, a former senior intelligence official accused by Argentina in connection with the 1994 AMIA bombing, as deputy secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, according to state media reports on August 11, 2026.
Asgari, who previously served as an advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is one of the individuals sought by Argentina for the attack on the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people. In June 2025, Argentina's federal judiciary ordered that 10 Iranian and Lebanese suspects, including Asgari, be tried in connection with the bombing.
The appointment has drawn international criticism, particularly from Argentina and Jewish organizations, who view it as a provocation. Argentina has repeatedly called on Iran to cooperate with the investigation, but Iran has denied any involvement in the attack.
Asgari's new role was announced by the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), which reported that he had been appointed by the council's secretary, Ali Akbar Ahmadian. The move underscores the continued tensions between Iran and Argentina over the unresolved case.
