TEHRAN (The Thursday Times) — Iran has designated Argentina’s navy and air force as “terrorist organisations”, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday, in what it called a reciprocal response to Buenos Aires blacklisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps earlier this year.
The ministry said the move was based on “the principle of reciprocity” and on a 2019 Iranian law that allows action against countries that designate Iran’s armed forces as terrorist organisations. “It is evident that the responsibility for all consequences arising from this matter will lie with the Argentine government,” it said. The statement did not mention Argentina’s army.
Argentina’s foreign ministry said it “categorically rejects” the designation. “This measure is completely baseless and constitutes an unacceptable accusation,” it said.
A dispute rooted in 1994
President Javier Milei’s government added the IRGC to Argentina’s register of terrorist groups this spring, citing its support for Hezbollah. Argentina blames Hezbollah, and accuses Iran of involvement, in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people, and the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy, which killed 29. Iran has always denied involvement.
Milei’s office said at the time that the decision was meant to “settle a historical debt of more than 30 years with the families of the victims”.
The designation also followed pressure from US President Donald Trump’s administration on allies to blacklist the IRGC after the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28. Milei has placed his government firmly behind Washington and Israel, unlike many Latin American leaders.
The row comes as Argentina presses its claim to the Falkland Islands, where it has asked an international tribunal to halt British-backed oil drilling.
