President Milei: 'Iran is an enemy of Argentina'

President Javier Milei has described Iran as “an enemy” of Argentina and reaffirmed his unconditional support and friendship for Israel in its conflict with the Islamic republic.

Israel launched air strikes on nuclear and military facilities in Iran on June 13, claiming the country was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon – a claim Tehran denies.

Milei, who has shifted the nation's foreign policy in favour of the United States and Israel, made his feelings clear in a television interview on Thursday night.

“Iran is an enemy of Argentina,” Milei said during an appearance on the La Nación+ news channel.

The La Libertad Avanza leader blamed Tehran for two terrorist attacks in Buenos Aires – the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre. More than 100 people were killed in the two attacks.

In the same interview, Milei suggested that former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner may have committed treason, citing the 2013 memorandum of understanding signed between her administration and Iran over the two bombings, an agreement that never come to fruition.

“Cristina is going to have to give explanations to the courts about the memorandum with Iran. I don’t know if it constitutes treason, but they planted two bombs in Argentina. That’s key,” said the President.

Milei, who recently concluded a visit to Israel shortly before the bombing campaign against Iran began, spoke Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his “support and solidarity,” according to the government.

In a statement issued last week, Milei’s Office condemned “the vile attack perpetrated by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the State of Israel, through the mass launch of missiles and drones directed at civilian populations.”

The President also said Israel was “saving Western civilisation,” and accused Iran of seeking to destroy the country.

“Iran does not accept Israel’s existence and wants to wipe it out,” Milei said. “And the same goes for the left – it wants to destroy Israel because it represents the moral foundations of capitalism.”

During the interview, Milei highlighted that his administration had added Hezbollah and Hamas to Argentina’s official list of terrorist organisations.

Milei’s recent visit to Israel, which began June 10, was the President’s second trip to the country since he took office in December 2023. His previous visit, in February 2024, formed part of his first foreign trip as head of state.

Last week, Milei held several meetings with Netanyahu – who has described him as “a true friend of Israel” – and delivered a speech before the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament.

He also took part in the inauguration of a memorial for those kidnapped by Hamas in the October 7, 2023 attacks, announced an agreement with an airline to establish direct flights between Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv and signed cybersecurity and counterterrorism agreements with Netanyahu.

Milei also reiterated his commitment to move Argentina’s Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in 2026.

Argentina is home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, with around 250,000 people. An estimated 60,000 Argentines live in Israel, according to that country’s government.

– TIMES/AFP/NA