Iran designates Argentina's Navy and Air Force as terrorist organizations: a timeline

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, November 11, designated Argentina's Navy and Air Force as terrorist organizations, according to the EFE news agency, as reported by Diario Financiero. Tehran presented the move as a response to the "hostile act" of Javier Milei's government, which in late March added Iran's Revolutionary Guard to Argentina's terrorist registry, and warned: "Obviously, the Argentine government will be responsible for all the consequences of this."

According to La Nación, Iran invoked the "principle of reciprocity" set out in a 2019 law, which allows it to retaliate against any state that designates its armed forces as terrorists. As of publication, there was no official response from the Argentine government. This is the timeline of the clash between Iran and Argentina over the designation of Argentina's Navy and Air Force.

What Iran said about Argentina's Navy and Air Force

The Iranian Foreign Ministry statement, reported by La Nación, says both forces are "subject to the provisions of the said law" and designates them as terrorist organizations, without detailing the practical consequences. The move mirrors the one Iran applied in early November to the United Kingdom's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, when it also labeled the British intelligence service MI6 a "hostile group", according to Excélsior and EFE.

Why Argentina designated the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist group

The Argentine decision Iran says it is answering is Joint Resolution 3/2026 of the National Security and Foreign Affairs ministries, dated March 31, 2026, which added the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the Public Registry of Persons and Entities linked to Acts of Terrorism (RePET). The government based it on "official reports that prove transnational illicit activities" and on the responsibility Argentine courts attribute to Iran and Hezbollah for the 1992 Israeli Embassy and 1994 AMIA bombings, both unpunished.

Being on the RePET means, according to La Nación, an immediate administrative asset freeze, a ban on operating in the national financial system and an obligation to report any related activity to the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF). In January, Argentina had already added the Quds Force, the Revolutionary Guard's foreign operations branch, to the same registry, according to La Nación of Paraguay. In April, the government declared Iran's chargé d'affaires in Buenos Aires, Mohsen Soltani Tehrani, persona non grata and expelled him.

Timeline: from AMIA to the designation of the Navy and Air Force

The clash comes amid the war launched in late February by the United States and Israel against Iran, which Milei backed, according to La Nación. The Argentine president's foreign policy, aligned with Washington and Israel, is one of the pillars of his government; his career is covered in our profile of Javier Milei.

What the designation means for Argentina

Iran did not detail concrete measures. In practice, the designation takes effect within Iran's jurisdiction and adds to an already diminished diplomatic relationship, with no Iranian chargé d'affaires in Buenos Aires since April. EFE noted that the Iranian law applies to countries that support the US designation of the Revolutionary Guard. This article will be updated if the Argentine government responds.

Frequently asked questions

In retaliation for the listing of Iran's Revolutionary Guard in Argentina's counterterrorism registry (RePET), applying a 2019 Iranian reciprocity law.

Through Joint Resolution 3/2026, dated March 31, 2026. In January it had already listed the Quds Force.

Argentina's Public Registry of Persons and Entities linked to Acts of Terrorism and its Financing. Being listed means an asset freeze and a ban on using the financial system.