Paraguayan President Santiago Peña announced on Thursday that Paraguay has expanded its 2019 designation of Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist organizations so that it now encompasses both their military and political wings.
In addition, Peña announced that Paraguay has designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, citing their “systematic violations of peace, human rights, and the security of the international community.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed the move, writing on X, “I commend Paraguay and President Peña for the landmark decision to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas, and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.”
“Iran is the world’s leading exporter of terrorism and extremism, and together with its terror proxies, it threatens regional stability and global peace. More countries should follow suit and join the fight against Iranian aggression and terrorism,” added Sa’ar.
The United States also praised Paraguay for the move.
“The United States welcomes President Santiago Peña designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, and expanding Paraguay’s 2019 terrorist designations of the armed wings of Hezbollah and Hamas to encompass the entirety of these organizations,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
“Iran remains the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world and has financed and directed numerous terrorist attacks and activities globally, through its IRGC-Quds Force and proxies such as Hezbollah and Hamas. The important steps Paraguay has taken will help cut off the ability of the Iranian regime and its proxies to plot terrorist attacks and raise money for its malignant and destabilizing activity, including in the Tri-Border Area Paraguay shares with Argentina and Brazil,” she added.
“The United States will continue to work with partners such as Paraguay to confront global security threats. We call on all countries to hold the Iranian regime accountable and prevent its operatives, recruiters, financiers, and proxies from operating in their territories.”