Iran lists Argentina navy, air force as terrorist organisations

Tehran has designated Argentina's air force and navy as "terrorist organizations," Iran's Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday, in retaliation for a similar move by Buenos Aires.

In late March, the Argentine government added Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of "terrorist" individuals and organizations, citing its support for Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Argentina's judiciary accuses Iran and Hezbollah of being responsible for the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people and injured hundreds.

Since Javier Milei took office in late 2023, Argentina's government has adopted a clearly pro-US and pro-‘Israel’ stance and expressed support for their war against Iran.

In a statement, Iran's Foreign Ministry said Tehran "considers the Argentine Navy and Air Force to fall under the scope of the aforementioned law and its provisions, and hereby designates them as terrorist organizations."

The practical implications of the designation were not immediately clear.

Argentina's Foreign Ministry responded on Wednesday by "categorically rejecting" Tehran's decision.

"This measure is entirely without basis and constitutes an unacceptable accusation against institutions established in accordance with the law, subject to the national constitution, and tasked with defending national sovereignty," the ministry said in a statement.

Iran adopted a law in 2019 allowing it to take reciprocal measures against any country that designates its armed forces as terrorist organizations.

Earlier this month, Iran designated Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) a "hostile group" and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force "terrorist organizations," following London's designation of the IRGC as a "terrorist" organization in July.