Ecuador blacklists Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hamas and Hezbollah

Ecuador has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations in a decree signed by President Daniel Noboa on Monday.

It cited reports from Ecuador’s National Intelligence Center (CNI) warning of the groups’ presence in South America and possible ties to domestic criminal networks.

The three groups, the decree added, pose a direct threat to public security and sovereignty of Ecuador. Quito has grappled with rising crime as drugs gangs have gained clout and firepower in recent years.

Israel’s foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed the decision and thanked the Ecuadorean government for the designations.

"Ecuador’s courageous step sends a clear message against Iran’s terror network and strengthens global security," Sa’ar said in a post on X. "We call on more countries in Latin America and around the world to follow suit."

The move brings Ecuador in line with the United States, which lists Hamas, Hezbollah and the IRGC as foreign terrorist organizations.

Canada, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have similarly blacklisted the IRGC.

The United States has long urged other countries to blacklist the group, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to announce Ecuador's move prematurely on X following a visit to the country this month. The post was subsequently edited to remove a reference to Ecuador's terrorist designation of Hezbollah and the IRGC.

Ecuador’s designation of the IRGC comes less than a month after Australia announced plans to legislate its own designation of the group as a terrorist organization.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last month that intelligence gathered by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization showed Iran had directed attacks on a kosher restaurant in Sydney and a synagogue in Melbourne last year.

Iran denied the allegations and said Australia's move aimed to distract from righteous solidarity with Palestine among Australia's own citizens.

Paraguay designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization in April and expanded its classification of Hamas and Hezbollah to include all components of both groups.

In a presidential decree, Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña expanded the country’s 2019 designation of the military wings of Hezbollah and Hamas to also cover their political and social branches.