Iran designates Argentina's navy and air force as 'terrorist organizations'

Tehran has ​designated Argentina's navy and ‌air force ​as "terrorist organizations," Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, in a reciprocal move following Buenos Aires' designation ‌of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist entity in April.

Argentina had designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, following a push ‌from US President Donald Trump's administration for allies to do so. Iran's ‌Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Tehran considers the Argentinian air force and navy terrorist organizations "based on the principle of reciprocity".

"It is evident that the ⁠responsibility for ​all consequences arising ⁠from this matter will lie with the Argentine government," the ministry added, without elaborating. ⁠It made no mention of Argentina's army. In a statement on Wednesday, Argentina's foreign ​ministry said it "categorically rejects" Iran's decision.

Argentina said in April that the measure ⁠it took against Iran's IRGC was due to its backing for Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which Buenos ⁠Aires ​blames for the deadliest bombing in the South American nation's history, a 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish community centre in ⁠the Argentinian capital that killed 85 and injured hundreds. The IRGC is an elite ⁠military force ⁠that protects Shi'ite Muslim clerical rule in Iran and controls large parts of Iran's economy.