B’nai B’rith International sees proof of Iran’s commitment to terror in the September 3 ratification by the Iranian Congress of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s choice for Defense Minister, Ahmad Vahidi. The action serves to underscore that Iran is, and should be seen as, a pariah among nations.

B’nai B’rith International President Moishe Smith and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin issued the following statement:

No one should be surprised that the Iranian Congress ratified the nomination of Ahmed Vahidi, a man wanted by Interpol for international terrorism. The action shows once again that the current Iranian regime is a principal backer of terrorist groups.

The members of the Iranian parliament had to know that Vahidi is one of five Iranian officials targeted by Interpol for playing a critical role in conceiving, planning, financing, and executing the brutal 1994 terrorist attack on the AMIA (Argentina-Israelite Mutual Association) Jewish community building in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was an attack in which 84 Argentines were killed and hundreds more wounded.

To put a nation’s armed forces and arsenal in the hands of a man even suspected of this kind of brutal terrorist act is a sobering and deeply frightening action. It proves that Iran’s commitment to terror goes much deeper than the outrageous statements of its newly re-elected leader. Taken together with Iran’s arrest and trials of those who questioned the legitimacy of Ahmadinejad’s election, it underscores the fact that responsible nations should see Iran for what it is: a pariah among nations.

The specter of a terrorist holding the keys to the weapons in a nuclear-armed Iran should be chilling to all. More than ever, it is essential that the strongest sanctions be placed on Iran if it continues to move toward nuclear weaponization.