Iran designates Argentinian navy, air force as ‘terrorist organisations’

Detailed summary

The move comes months after the government of Javier Milei designated Iran's IRGC as a 'terrorist organisation'.

The government of Iran has announced it will designate the naval and air forces of Argentina as “terrorist organisations”, in a tit-for-tat response to how the South American country designated its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in March.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday that it considers the two branches of the Argentinian military “terrorist organisations” by “the principle of reciprocity”. The statement does not mention Argentina’s army.

“It is evident that the responsibility for all consequences arising from this matter will lie with the Argentine government,” the statement adds.

Argentina’s foreign ministry responded with a statement of its own saying that it “categorically rejects” Iran’s designation.

Wednesday’s back-and-forth, however, is not the first time that relations between Iran and Argentina have been strained.

Argentina blames the Iran-backed group Hezbollah for a deadly bombing attack on the AMIA Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires in 1994, which killed 85 people and injured hundreds more.

The office of Argentinian President Javier Milei referenced that incident on March 31, when it issued the “terrorist” designation against the IRGC.

“President Javier Milei hopes this decision will settle a historical debt of more than 30 years with the families of the victims,” a statement from his office said at the time.

“This government is determined to bring the Argentine Republic back into alignment with Western civilization, while condemning and directly combating those who seek to destroy it.”

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