Argentina denies Iran trade halt

Argentina has denied it is suspending commercial ties with Iran worth $1bn (£670m) a year.

The Argentine Jewish news agency and several Argentine newspapers earlier reported the suspension.

They said it was over differences in an investigation into a bomb attack on a Jewish cultural centre in Buenos Aires in 1994 that killed 85 people.

But the Argentine justice ministry later said that no such statement had been made.

The confusion came as members of the American Jewish Committee were preparing to meet President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

At the top of their agenda is the investigation into the bomb attack on the Jewish-Argentine Mutual Association (AMIA) centre - in which 300 people were injured in addition to the dozens killed.

No one has ever been convicted in connection with the killings.

But Argentine authorities believe the attack was carried out by Lebanese Islamic movement Hezbollah, with the backing of the then Iranian government.

Argentina has asked for the extradition of five Iranian politicians and diplomats in office at the time.

Both Iran and Hezbollah have denied any part in the attack.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Argentine president's office (in Spanish)
Argentine justice ministry (in Spanish)
American Jewish Committee
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