Argentina Rejects Iran’s Terrorist Designation of Its Navy and Air Force

Argentina’s government on Wednesday, Nov. 11, rejected Iran’s decision to designate the country’s navy and air force as terrorist organizations. In an official statement, Argentina’s Foreign Ministry called the move inadmissible, saying the two institutions are subject to the national constitution and serve to defend the country’s sovereignty.

The ministry said Iran’s designation had no basis and amounted to an unacceptable accusation against legally established institutions. It also said Argentina’s armed forces operate under national law, international law and the treaties to which the country is a party. Iran’s announcement did not mention the Argentine Army.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the decision was made in response to Argentina’s move in April to classify Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Tehran said it was acting according to the principle of reciprocity and warned that Argentina would be responsible for all consequences arising from its decision, without specifying what those consequences might be.

Argentina also tied its position toward Iran to the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and the 1994 bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association, known as AMIA. Argentina’s judiciary has attributed responsibility for both attacks to Iran. The AMIA bombing killed 85 people and injured hundreds; it is considered the deadliest attack in Argentina’s history. The embassy bombing killed 29 people.

The Argentine government says Iran has not cooperated with the judicial investigations, has not complied with international arrest warrants issued for suspects and continues to have people sought by Argentine justice in senior positions. Following Iran’s latest move, Buenos Aires renewed its call for Tehran to cooperate with judicial authorities and make the individuals under investigation available to the courts. Argentina’s Foreign Ministry also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to remembering the victims and pursuing justice, and expressed solidarity with their families and Argentina’s Jewish community.

Argentina’s April designation targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite military force that protects Iran’s regime and has significant influence over the country’s political and economic structures. Buenos Aires said at the time that the decision was based on the IRGC’s alleged support for Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based group that Argentina holds responsible for the 1994 AMIA bombing. Argentina’s move came amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration for allied countries to also designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization.