Instability in the Middle East once again stirs global concern, with fears that sparks of conflict may flare into outright war. Meanwhile, certain Iranian organizations are repeatedly troubling neighboring nations, supported, or at least unchecked, by the Iranian government itself. Acknowledging this, the US tagged Iran as a state-sponsor of terrorism back in 1984.
What it really means
The US State Department reserves this designation for select nations. Currently, besides Iran, Cuba, Syria, and North Korea fall under this category—nations that have had strained relations with America. The State Department often catches flak for this, facing accusations of listing any nation at odds with the US as terrorism-fostering. For instance, the governments of Cuba and North Korea are not active terror group supporters but are listed simply because of their anti-American stance.
Source: aajtak
The implications of being on the list
Being on this list hits the nation's economy directly. America imposes various sanctions and also bans leading businessmen from these countries from expanding trade. The ripple effect doesn't stop there—nations trading with those on the list also face US restrictions.
The case of Iran
Within just four years of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the US condemned the Iranian government for propagating terrorism. According to the State Department, the country is aiding in the formation and fortification of terror groups, providing them with financial support, militant training, and weapons—especially Hezbollah. In 2020 alone, Iran provided over $700 million in support to Hezbollah.
Source: aajtak
Terror organizations in Iran
- Hezbollah, a Shia Islamic political party and militant group in Lebanon, enjoys direct support from Iran. It's frequently accused of bombarding Israeli and American targets.- The Houthi group, an armed minority Shia Zaidi faction based in Yemen, has goals of eradicating Western influence, including that from America and Israel.- Hamas, a Sunni Muslim extremist faction, is also backed by Iran, seeking to establish an Islamic state in Palestine instead of Israel. Iran aids Hamas following the adage 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'.- Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is an Iran-sponsored group in Gaza, second in power only to Hamas, serving Iran's interests as well.
The Proxy Armies
Beyond the terror groups, Tehran commands an array of proxy armies. According to the American University, over a dozen such forces exist in Iran, powerful enough to maintain political clout through extreme religious ideologies. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, believed to have orchestrated recent attacks on Israel, is a paramilitary group that has fostered various other militant units. This includes the Quds Force, tasked with influencing the region from Lebanon to Iraq and Syria.
