Dominican Republic Designates Hezbollah and IRGC as Terrorist Organizations

The Dominican Republic has designated Hezbollah and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist organizations, its Foreign Affairs Ministry announced in a statement on Tuesday. The designation was made within the framework of the country's commitment to fighting global terrorism under the Inter-American Convention against Terrorism and United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The Foreign Ministry statement also reiterated the government's willingness to strengthen cooperative relations with the United States and other states in the hemisphere to advance regional security, stability and prosperity. It further detailed measures against drug trafficking and law enforcement cooperation with the US.

Israeli officials welcomed the designation.

One official said on Tuesday that the decision was part of an international front against terrorism and sends a clear message against the terrorist policies of Iran and its proxies while demonstrating a commitment to regional and global security. Another official said on Wednesday that the move aligns with dozens of countries that have already taken similar steps and that the world increasingly understands that the terror led by Iran is a global threat.

The announcement follows a meeting this week between the president of the Dominican Republic and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The two leaders discussed Israeli cooperation with agriculture, irrigation and business development as well as an upcoming Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism, according to the Caribbean nation's foreign ministry.

The designation adds the Dominican Republic to the list of countries that have formally classified the IRGC and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.