Argentina Ousts Iranian Diplomat Amid Tensions Over IRGC Terror Designation

Argentina has expelled an Iranian diplomat amid a diplomatic rift between the two countries over Argentina's decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

The move comes after Tehran made what Argentina described as 'offensive' accusations against the South American country following its decision to blacklist the IRGC.

In a statement, the Argentine Foreign Ministry said it had declared the Iranian diplomat 'persona non grata' and ordered him to leave the country within 48 hours.

The expulsion is the latest development in the ongoing tensions between Argentina and Iran over Argentina's decision in March to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, a move that mirrored similar actions by the United States and other Western nations.

The Argentine government said the designation was based on evidence of the IRGC's involvement in 'terrorist and destabilizing activities' in the region, including its alleged role in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.

Iran has strongly condemned the designation, calling it a 'hostile and unjustified' move and accusing Argentina of succumbing to 'pressure from the Zionist regime and the United States.'

In its statement, the Argentine Foreign Ministry said the expelled diplomat had made 'offensive accusations' against the country, without providing further details.

The tensions between Argentina and Iran come at a time of broader geopolitical shifts in the region, with many countries in Latin America reevaluating their relationships with Iran and other Middle Eastern powers.

As Argentina continues to navigate these complex diplomatic challenges, the expulsion of the Iranian diplomat is likely to further strain relations between the two countries, with the potential for more tit-for-tat actions in the future.