Iran has announced it will designate Argentina’s navy and air force as “terrorist organisations”, drawing a rejection from Argentina and extending a diplomatic dispute over the countries’ military institutions.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that the move followed “the principle of reciprocity”, responding to Argentina’s March designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Al Jazeera. The Iranian statement did not mention Argentina’s army.

“It is evident that the responsibility for all consequences arising from this matter will lie with the Argentine government,” the ministry said.

Argentina’s foreign ministry said it “categorically rejects” the designation. In its response, it called Iran’s action “completely baseless” and “an unacceptable accusation”.

The exchange follows a decision announced by President Javier Milei’s office on March 31 to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. His office linked that decision to the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people and injured hundreds more.

Argentina blames the Iran-backed group Hezbollah for that attack, Al Jazeera reported.

“President Javier Milei hopes this decision will settle a historical debt of more than 30 years with the families of the victims,” his office said when announcing the March designation.

The office also presented the decision as part of its broader foreign-policy alignment, saying the government intended to bring Argentina “back into alignment with Western civilization”.

Al Jazeera placed Argentina’s IRGC designation within a push by United States President Donald Trump to isolate Iran. The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28 and called on international allies to support their offensive.

While many Latin American leaders have avoided taking sides in global conflicts, Milei has positioned his government firmly behind the United States and Israel, the report said.

Sources