Netanyahu slams Iran as he arrives for landmark Latin America visit

Buenos Aires : Benjamin Netanyahu urged all countries to fight terrorism and singled out Iran as a serial offender as he paid tribute to the victims of two bombings in Argentina on the first trip by an Israeli premier to Latin America.

Surrounded by heavy security, Netanyahu held a closed-door meeting with members of Argentina's Jewish community, estimated to be Latin America's most numerous with 300,000 members.

He also participated in a ceremony to remember victims of bomb attacks at the Israeli embassy in 1992, and at a Jewish community center in 1994.

The embassy attack killed 29 and injured 220, while the community center blast left 85 dead and 300 injured.

Israel blamed the embassy attack on the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. Argentine investigators accused five former Iranian officials of sponsoring Hezbollah's attack on the community center but Iran denied involvement.

"Iran is the one that was behind of the great attacks in Buenos Aires in the 90s and is the 'octopus of terror,' and also Hezbollah that is sending branches (of terror) around the world, arms to Latin America as well," Netanyahu said, according to a transcript provided by the Israeli embassy.

The Israeli leader, who arrived on Monday, said it is "an obligation for all countries of culture to fight against terrorism ... and in particular, against the Iranian terrorism system."

Israel "will continue to act resolutely to countering Iran's terror and terror in general" along with its partners in Latin America and in North America, he said.