Argentina Designates Quds Force as Terrorist Organization
This past weekend, Argentina’s President Javier Milei signed a decree officially labeling the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Quds Force as a terrorist entity.
The Quds Force, an overseas faction of the IRGC, is recognized by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization and is known for carrying out foreign terrorist operations aimed at destabilizing governments outside Iran. This decree specifically identifies 13 individuals linked to these terrorist activities.
Signed on Saturday, January 17, this designation adds the Quds Force and the 13 individuals to Argentina’s Public Register of Persons and Entities Associated with Terrorism and Its Financing (RePET). This means they will face financial sanctions and operational limitations to curb their actions within the country. Additionally, they are now barred from utilizing Argentina’s financial system to finance their activities.
The Argentine government stated that this decision was made under the leadership of President Milei and involved various ministries, including Foreign Affairs, National Security, Justice, and the Argentine Intelligence Service.
Argentine officials highlighted that their nation has suffered from Quds Force terrorism, particularly through attacks on Jewish targets in Buenos Aires during the 1990s, such as the Israeli Embassy bombing in 1992 and the AMIA bombing in 1994. The AMIA attack was particularly devastating, resulting in 85 deaths and hundreds of injuries, marking Argentina’s deadliest terrorist event and the worst in the Western Hemisphere before 9/11.
In April 2024, almost three decades post-AMIA bombings, an Argentine court established that Iran and its affiliate Hezbollah were accountable for both attacks. During that same period, Argentina sought the arrest of former Iranian interior minister Ahmad Vahidi, identified as a principal architect of the assaults. Vahidi was appointed as deputy commander of the IRGC in December 2025.
The official statement also noted, “It’s important to recognize that Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the Quds Force from 1989 to 1998, played a role in the AMIA bombing and is currently the subject of an Interpol red notice. Yet, the Iranian government has neither cooperated in seeking his prosecution nor ceased promoting him.” Currently, he is already mentioned in RePET.
“The President remains committed to identifying terrorists for what they are, whether it’s Hamas, the Sunshine Cartel, or the affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood,” the statement continued. “This government aims to reverse past declines and align with Western civilization, which values individual rights while actively opposing those who threaten it.”
The U.S. State Department praised Milei’s decision, referencing it in a brief social media post: “As a key faction of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Quds Force oppresses its people domestically while inciting violence across the Middle East and beyond.”
The statement concluded by underscoring that this significant move enhances global initiatives against Iranian-supported terrorism and bolsters support for the Iranian populace.
Additionally, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the Quds Force’s designation as “a vital step” towards uniting the international community against Iranian terrorism and remembering the victims of past attacks in Buenos Aires.
Saar emphasized that more nations should “emulate Argentina’s stance and explicitly label these terrorist groups.”
Argentina’s *La Nación* reported on Monday that Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei condemned the declaration as “unacceptable,” threatening Argentina and asserting that there would be a significant response from the Iranian regime.
Since taking office in December, President Milei has been reshaping Argentina’s foreign policy, forging stronger ties with the United States and Israel. His approach starkly contrasts the policies of previous socialist administrations that leaned towards alliances with nations like Iran, China, Russia, Cuba, and Venezuela.
Milei signed the decree just hours before the anniversary of the death of Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who was shot and killed on January 18, 2015, right before he was set to testify in Congress concerning then-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s alleged cover-up of Iran’s involvement in the AMIA bombings, in exchange for a favorable trade agreement.
Currently under house arrest for corruption, Fernández de Kirchner had infamously signed a controversial memorandum with Iran in 2013, permitting Iranian involvement in the investigation into the AMIA bombing. Nisman’s death was officially ruled a “suicide,” although the current President has previously suggested it was murder.
The cover-up surrounding the AMIA incident continued long after Nisman’s passing, with the case against Fernández de Kirchner stirring significant debate. Various developments occurred regarding her legal status in 2021.
