TEHRAN – Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has designated the Argentine Navy and Air Force as terrorist organizations in response to Buenos Aires’ decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry said the measure was taken in accordance with the principle of reciprocity and under Iran’s 2019 law on reciprocal action against the US designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
The statement described Argentina’s decision as a hostile act that violates fundamental principles of international law, emphasizing that the IRGC is an integral branch of Iran’s official Armed Forces. It cited the 2019 legislation, which stipulates that any country that, in any manner, follows or supports the United States’ decision to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization is subject to reciprocal action. “Accordingly, the Argentine Navy and the Argentine Air Force are subject to the provisions of the aforementioned law and are hereby designated as terrorist organizations,” the statement said.
The ministry added that the Argentine government would bear full responsibility for all consequences arising from the measure.
The Tehran Times reports Iran's designation of Argentina's navy and air force as terrorist organisations and attributes Iran's reasoning to the foreign ministry's statement throughout. It gives the reader Argentina's decision only through Iran's description of it as a hostile act. It leaves out Argentina's stated reason for listing the IRGC and Argentina's rejection of Iran's move, both reported elsewhere the same day.
One side gets the space
Minor
“described Argentina's decision as a hostile act that violates fundamental principles of international law”
Why this matters
The words "described Argentina's decision as a hostile act" are the only account of Argentina's decision anywhere in the article, and they come from Iran's foreign ministry.
The impression it gives
A reader learns why Iran acted but sees Argentina's decision only as Iran characterises it, with no reason or reply from Buenos Aires.
The context
Other outlets reported that Argentina said in April it listed the IRGC over its backing for Hezbollah, which Buenos Aires blames for the 1994 AMIA bombing, and that Argentina's foreign ministry "categorically rejects" Iran's decision. The attribution here is correct, but Argentina gets no voice at all.