Iran designates Argentina's navy and air force as terrorist organisations in reciprocity move

Iran has formally designated Argentina's navy and air force as terrorist organisations, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two countries. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Iran's foreign ministry, which said the move was based on the principle of reciprocity. It follows Argentina's earlier decision to label Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

According to the Iranian foreign ministry, Argentina's action against the Guard was a hostile measure. Tehran said Buenos Aires would bear responsibility for any consequences arising from the decision, although it did not specify what steps might follow. The Iranian measure was presented as a response to Argentina's March designation of the Guard, which is the ideological branch of the Iranian state.

Argentina said its designation of the Guard allows financial sanctions and operational restrictions to be applied against Iran. Buenos Aires has accused the Guard of supporting Hezbollah, the Lebanese group it blames for two bombings in the Argentine capital. Those attacks were the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy, which killed 29 people, and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre, in which 85 people died and hundreds were injured.

The latest move adds to a broader deterioration in relations that has developed since Javier Milei became president in December 2023. Since taking office, Milei has aligned Argentina more closely with the United States and Israel, which he regards as key allies. In February, he backed a joint attack by the two countries against Iran, and in April Argentina expelled Iran's top diplomatic representative in Buenos Aires, Mohsen Soltani Tehrani.

The dispute also reflects a legal and political framework that Iran put in place in 2019, when it approved a law allowing retaliation against any state that designates its armed forces as terrorist organisations. That law now appears to be the basis for the latest Iranian response. The decision is likely to deepen tensions between Tehran and Buenos Aires at a time when both sides have already taken steps that the other has described as hostile.

What remains unclear is whether Iran will follow the designation with practical measures against Argentina's military or diplomatic interests. The foreign ministry did not outline any immediate sanctions or operational steps. The next developments to watch are whether Argentina responds publicly, whether other countries comment on the escalation, and whether the dispute leads to further diplomatic or legal action.

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