Argentinian President Defends Deal With Iran

A screen shot of Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on national TV, defending a pact with Iran to to investigate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.

Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has defended a pact with Iran to set up a "truth commission" to investigate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.

Argentinian courts have accused Iran of sponsoring the attack, which killed 85 people.

The pact signed with Tehran has been criticized by Israel and Jewish groups who fear it could end up weakening the case against Iranian officials.

Fernandez defended the deal on national TV.

"We have taken an important step forward to pry open a case that was absolutely immobilized," she said. "More than that, without the possibility of interrogating those whom Argentinian justice has blamed or incriminated as presumed participants in the attack."

Fernandez said she sent a bill to the Argentinian congress asking it to approve the agreement.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP