Paraguay Designates Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s IRGC as Terrorist Organizations

In a significant move aligning with Western counterterrorism efforts, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña announced that his country now officially designates Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as terrorist organizations. The declaration, made public late Thursday, expands on Paraguay’s 2019 policy, which had previously blacklisted only the armed wings of these groups.

U.S. Welcomes Decision

The United States Department of State praised Paraguay’s move, calling it “a meaningful and important step in the global fight against terrorism.” In a statement, spokesperson Tammy Bruce reiterated that Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and highlighted the destabilizing roles of its proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, in orchestrating attacks worldwide.

Crackdown on the Tri-Border Region

The designation is expected to disrupt terror-related activity in the Tri-Border Area—where Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil meet—a region long known as a hub for terrorist financing, recruitment, and logistics tied to Iran and Hezbollah.

Call for International Cooperation

The U.S. has urged other nations to follow suit. “We call on all countries to hold the Iranian regime accountable and prevent its agents and affiliates from operating within their borders,” the State Department emphasized.