This, of course, speaks volumes about Iran’s idea of “defense.” Ahmad Vahidi Update. “Iran: MPs endorse bomb suspect as defence minister,” from AdnKronos International, September 3:
Tehran, 3 Sept.(AKI) – Iran’s parliament has approved the president’s hardline appointment for a new defence minister, Ahmad Vahidi, a man accused of involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural centre in Argentina.
Vahidi’s appointment was approved by MPs, Iran’s official news agency Irna reported.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had nominated him as a member of his next cabinet following the disputed 12 June election.
Vahidi is one of five prominent Iranians sought by Argentina in the bombing, which killed 85 people in the capital Buenos Aires.
He was the commander of a special unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard known as the Quds Force at the time of the attack.
Vahidi faced no opposition from MPs during the parliamentary debate on Ahmadinejad’s choices for his new cabinet.
However, lawmakers reportedly rejected nominees for the energy, education, as well as welfare and social security ministries. Two of them were women.
Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi was approved as health minister, Iran’s first female minister since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
One made it through, despite clerics’ “religious doubts.”
Interpol said Vahidi has been subject to a “red notice” – or international wanted persons alert – since 2007.
Israel and Argentina have condemned his nomination with Buenos Aires calling it “an affront to the victims” of the attack 15 years ago.
Vahidi is a long-serving member of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards and he served as deputy defence minister in Ahmadinejad’s outgoing government.