On April 25, 2025, Santiago Peña, the President of Paraguay, announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that his country has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. He emphasized that Paraguay has expanded the scope of its terrorist list to include all branches and sectors of Hezbollah and Hamas. In addition, the IRGC was added due to its systematic violations of peace, human rights, and international security.
This decision by Paraguay was welcomed by the U.S. Department of State. In a statement issued on this occasion, it was declared that Iran’s regime is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, and through the IRGC Quds Force and its proxy groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, it has financed and directed numerous terrorist attacks and activities globally.
Declaración de la Vocera del @StateDept Tammy Bruce (@statedeptspox) congratulando a Paraguay por Restringir a Irán y a sus Intermediarios https://t.co/Y6WRgYiLWO
— Embajada de EE.UU. (@laembajada) April 24, 2025
The IRGC and Hezbollah’s presence in Latin America
The IRGC and Hezbollah have had a long-standing presence in Latin America, especially in the Tri-Border Area between Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. This region, due to weak legal oversight and the presence of Arab diaspora communities, has become a favorable ground for illicit activities. Hezbollah has been present in this region since the 1980s and has been involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, and financing terrorist operations. For example, in 2002, reports emerged about open Hezbollah activities in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. In recent years, U.S. and Paraguayan authorities have succeeded in identifying and dismantling cocaine trafficking networks linked to Hezbollah in this region.
In addition, the IRGC has been active in Latin America through its Quds Force. For instance, in 2022, a Boeing 747 cargo plane crewed by Iranians and Venezuelans landed in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. This flight was seen as part of an air bridge between Iran and Venezuela, used to transport senior regime officials, intelligence agents, and weapons under the cover of passenger or cargo flights.
Consequences of Paraguay’s decision
Paraguay’s designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization reflects growing international concerns over Iran’s activities and its proxy groups in Latin America. This move could strengthen regional cooperation in countering terrorism and organized crime and exert further pressure on Iran’s regime to stop supporting terrorist groups.
