The Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires expressed “concern” this Thursday about the activities in Latin America of two Iranian airlines, which it accuses of “engaging in arms trafficking” and welcomed Argentina’s decision to retain a Venezuelan plane with Iranian crew members. .
A statement from the diplomatic representation recognized “the rapid action” of Argentina, where a Venezuelan cargo plane that landed at the Ezeiza airport on June 6 with 19 crew members – five Iranians and 14 Venezuelans – was held under judicial investigation.
“The State of Israel is particularly concerned about the activity of the Iranian airlines Mahan Air and Qeshm Fars Air in Latin America, companies that are dedicated to arms trafficking and the transfer of people and equipment that operate for the Quds Force, which are sanctioned by the United States for being involved in terrorist activities,” the statement said.
Al Quds, an elite force of the Guardians of the Revolution -Iranian ideological army-, is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States. Although Argentina does not include it on its list, one of its members does appear individually.
The cargo plane held at the Ezeiza airport, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, belongs to the Emtrasur company, a subsidiary of the Venezuelan Conviasa, under sanctions from the United States Department of the Treasury. The device was purchased a year ago from the Iranian airline Mahan Air.
As a result of the investigation initiated last Sunday by the local justice system, the 19 crew members are prohibited from leaving Argentina. The case is under summary secrecy.
In the part, the Israeli embassy expressed its “recognition for the quick, effective and firm action of the Argentine security forces that identified in real time the potential threat of the aircraft.”
The Security Minister, Aníbal Fernández, welcomed the content of the statement as well as a statement by the United States ambassador to Argentina, Marc Stanley, thanking the local actions.
“Argentina endured two attacks in 1992 and 1994, not being vigilant would be of serious concern, but no one stayed still,” the minister told Delta radio.
Argentina suffered an attack on the Israeli embassy in 1992 and another on the AMIA Jewish center in 1994, causing a total of 114 deaths and some 500 injuries.
“The government carried out all the measures that had to be carried out,” said the presidential spokeswoman, Gabriela Cerruti, on Thursday, who recalled that “none of the crew members had alerts or records.”
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