A former Iranian diplomat at university in the North-East appeared in court yesterday accused of conspiring to murder 85 people in a terrorist attack in Argentina.

Hade Soleimanpour's lawyer claimed that he was the victim of a political vendetta.

The Argentinian government has asked for Mr Soleimanpour to be extradited from Britain to face the charge that he was part of a conspiracy to bomb a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires in 1994.

Mr Soleimanpour, 47, was the Iranian ambassador to Argentina at the time. Tehran has always denied any involvement in the attack.

He spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared at Bow Street Magistrates' Court in London yesterday and was remanded in custody until August 29.

Mr Soleimanpour, a research student on an environment studies course at Durham University, made no comment as the charge was read to him.

But Detective Sergeant Keith Richardson, from Scotland Yard's extradition unit, said he had told officers "it is false" when the charge was put to him during his arrest.

He was held at his rented accommodation in Kepier Court, Durham City, on Thursday after a formal request was made by the Argentinian authorities.

A fresh investigation was carried out into the car bombing after a recent change of government, the court heard.

Eighty-five people were killed and 200 injured when the blast destroyed the headquarters of the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association and the Delegation of Argentine Jewish Association.

Det Sgt Richardson told the court that Argentinian authorities alleged that Mr Soleimanpour was involved in planning and commissioning the bombing, and that he provided information about the location and timing of the attack.

A fellow Iranian living in the same group of flats for mature students said he had not even realised Soleimanpour was an ambassador. It is understood Mr Soleimanpour's wife and two children left Kepier Court ten days ago.

His lawyer, Michel Massih, told the court: "He has always publicly and strenuously denied these allegations. There is a political vendetta here."

Police had visited his house three times this year before his arrest on Thursday and had discussed the bombing, said Mr Massih.

"It is not a case of somebody who is trying to avoid detection," he said, adding that Mr Soleimanpour had enrolled at Durham University as an "ordinary student" and did not receive a scholarship from the Iranian government.