In a sweeping counterterrorism measure, the Government of Paraguay has officially designated the Iranian regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, citing its systematic violations of international peace, human rights, and global security.
President Santiago Peña made the announcement on Thursday via X (formerly Twitter), stating the decision stems from the IRGC’s “systematic violations of peace, human rights, and the security of the international community.” The measure also expands Paraguay’s existing terrorist designations of Hamas and Hezbollah to include the entirety of both organizations, not just their armed wings.
The presidential decrees, numbered 3758, 3759, and 3760, were described as part of Paraguay’s “firm and non-negotiable position in the fight against terrorism,” according to an official statement from the presidency.
¡El Paraguay reafirma su compromiso con la lucha global contra el terrorismo!
Hemos ampliado la designación de Hezbolá y Hamás como organizaciones terroristas, alcanzando ahora a todos sus componentes; y, además, hemos designado como organización terrorista al Cuerpo de… pic.twitter.com/k8XceSSsvv— Santiago Peña (@SantiPenap) April 24, 2025
The designation marks a significant development in Latin America’s stance toward transnational militant threats. The U.S. State Department praised the move, calling it a “critical step” that would “help prevent the Iranian regime and its proxies from planning terrorist attacks and raising funds for their malign and destabilizing activities, including in the Tri-Border Area shared by Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil.”
The Tri-Border Area (TBA) is known for both licit commerce and illicit financial activity, and has long been cited by intelligence agencies as a vulnerable point for extremist networks.
The U.S. also reiterated its view that “Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism” and urged other nations to hold the regime accountable by curbing the operations of its agents, financiers, and affiliated networks abroad.
Exclusive Report: IRGC and Hezbollah’s Presence in South Americahttps://t.co/ruH6trbWCD
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 26, 2023
By expanding its designation beyond armed elements to include political and social branches of these groups, Paraguay breaks with a more limited precedent set in 2019 and sends what President Peña described as a “clear message” in defense of democratic principles, international law, and national sovereignty.
For years, the IRGC and Hezbollah have quietly expanded their operations across Latin America, using embassies, religious centers, and front companies as platforms for intelligence gathering, recruitment, and illicit financing. The clerical regime in Iran has used these networks to establish a military and paramilitary presence in the region, exploiting diplomatic cover and corrupt local systems to embed operatives in countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, and Guyana. This strategic penetration—facilitated by cultural exchange and political alliances—has enabled Tehran to carry out surveillance, logistics, and even foiled assassination plots in Colombia and Argentina.
As geopolitical tensions rise and transnational security concerns intensify, Paraguay’s move may serve as a precedent for other Latin American countries considering similar designations.