New AMIA bombing revelation not news for the BBC

For at least a decade and a half BBC News articles relating to the 1994 terrorist attack on the AMIA centre in Buenos Aires have informed audiences that Iran denies any involvement in the case. For example:AMIA bombing

“Tehran rejects the accusations.” (23/12/2000)

“…Iran has rejected claims that it was in any way involved in the attack.” (24/09/2001)

“Iran has denied that any of its officials were involved in a deadly bomb attack on a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires in 1994.” (09/03/2003)

“Iran denies any involvement in the bombing…” (25/08/2003)

“Argentine, US and Israeli officials have all said that Iran is to blame – a charge Tehran denies.” (10/11/2005)

“The Iranian government, which denies any involvement, has said it is ready to help solve the case.” (19/07/2011)

“Tehran has always denied any involvement.” (29/01/2013)

“Iran has always denied any involvement.” (28/02/2013)

“Iran dismissed the allegations as “baseless”.” (19/01/2015)

“Iran has denied any involvement in either of the attacks.” (28/01/2015)

Such statements are of course accurate: Iran has indeed denied involvement in the 1994 AMIA bombing and there is no reason why the BBC should not make audiences aware of that fact. However, it should also inform them of the wealth of evidence available which indicates that Iran’s denial of involvement is to be viewed with a considerable amount of scepticism. One might therefore have assumed that the following news would have sparked the interest of the “standard-setter for international journalism”.

“Former Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman knew that Iran was responsible for the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires even as he negotiated with the regime in Tehran, secretly-recorded telephone conversations released on Friday reveal.

The previously unknown recordings of conversations between Timerman and leaders of the Argentine Jewish community confirm what has long been suspected. While negotiating the infamous “Memorandum of Understanding” in 2013 aimed at setting up a joint commission with Iran to supposedly investigate the bombing, Timerman had no doubt that Tehran was behind the atrocity that claimed the lives of 85 people and injured hundreds more.”

To date, however, that story has not been reported by the BBC.

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Superficial BBC reporting on Iranian involvement in AMIA attack

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