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Argentine president Javier Milei talking with his US counterpart Donald Trump.

Argentina has adopted a policy of endorsement and support for the United States and Israel in response to the 2026 Iran war as part of President Javier Milei's international policy.

Under the Milei administration, Argentina became a vocal supporter of the United States and Israeli military actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Argentina and Iran have maintained tense relations since the AMIA bombing in 1994, which Argentina blames on Iran.

Background

Main article: Argentina–Iran relations

After the AMIA bombing in July 1994, the government of Argentina has blamed Iranian elements for the attack, alleging that Iran acted via Hezbollah proxies in Buenos Aires.[1][2] Another suicide bombing two years earlier at the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, which has also been suspected as an act supported by Iran, had already strained relations between both countries.[3]

The governments of Néstor Kirchner and his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner showed an improvement in the relations between Argentina and Iran, with Fernández de Kirchner signing a memorandum of understanding to pursue justice in joint cooperation with Iran and opposing, at least initially, Interpol red notices against Iranian officials. Fernández de Kirchner condemned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over his statements denying the Holocaust and boycotted his speeches at the UN.[4][5][6] As Vice President of Alberto Fernández, she denounced the designation of some of the accused over AMIA to high military positions, including the case of Ahmad Vahidi and Mohsen Rezai.[7][8][9]

In 2015, after the inauguration of Mauricio Macri, relations worsened again, with Macri revoking the memorandum with Iran and declaring Hezbollah as a terrorist organization in July 2019, banning all Hezbollah’s activities in the country and freezing its assets.[10][11][12] Macri also blamed Iran for the death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman.[13][14] This tension was partially relieved in the administration of President Alberto Fernández, a Kirchner ally. Fernández took a policy of inaction and insisted on pursuing justice independent of the Iranian position.[15][16]

After the victory of Javier Milei in 2023, his government took an aggressive stance on Iran, aligning with Israel and supporting Israeli actions against Iran, including the April and October Israeli strikes on Iran as part of a retaliation for two attacks by Iran against Israel those same months.[17][18] Milei continued to show support for Israel during the Gaza war and celebrated Israeli actions like the killing of Yahya Sinwar and the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah.[19][20]

In April 2024, the Federal Criminal Cassation Court of Argentina blamed Iran for the attacks against the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and AMIA.[3][21][22]

Diplomatic position

Milei with Israel prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Argentina supported the initial actions by the United States and Israel against Iran on 28 February 2026, with Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno saying that the aim of the strikes was to secure the region and bring lasting stability to the world. President Milei celebrated the assassination of Ali Khamenei, harshly criticizing him.[23][24] Milei blamed Khamenei for the Iranian sponsor of terrorism, especially for the case of AMIA.[25][26]

On 9 March 2026, during a visit to Yeshiva University in New York City, Milei said that he was proud to be the “most Zionist president in the world,” adding that “we are going to win this war.”[27][28][29]

On 19 March 2026, Argentina said that it would grant military support to the United States in the Persian Gulf if the American government made the request, with a spokesman for Casa Rosada adding that “whatever aid they consider will be granted.”[30][31] During an interview with journalist Eduardo Feinmann on 30 March, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno reassured that Argentina is ready to send help if the governments of the United States or Israel request assistance.[32] Quirno added, regarding Milei’s position, that “Argentina will not be neutral in the face of international terrorism.”[32] On 2 April 2026, Argentina expelled the Iranian charge d’affaires in Buenos Aires, officially severing all diplomatic ties with Iran.[33][22][34]

On 7 April 2026, after Trump’s ultimatum to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, the Argentine government said that its support for the US is “absolute and total.”[35] Milei added during an interview that Iran wants to exterminate the State of Israel and defended Israel as a “Western stronghold,” stating that he “does not care about the lies and aberrations that the international socialist press says about Bibi Netanyahu.”[36][37] Milei also said that Israel defends Judeo-Christian values.[37]

Milei announced on 17 April 2026 that he will travel for Independence Day in Israel on 19 April, where he is expected to be bestowed with the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour by President Isaac Herzog for his unwavering support of the State of Israel.[38] Milei added in an interview that Iran is an “enemy of Argentina (and) the whole world,” saying that while Israel agrees to coexist with other nations, Iran instead seeks to exterminate Israelis. Milei will meet with PM Netanyahu to advance on the move of the Argentine embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.[38][39] He also strongly criticized the international community for not supporting Israel and the United States military operations more, alleging that for peace, “[you] need to be prepared for war.”[38]

Reactions

Argentine opposition, led by left-wing Kirchnerism, brought a project to Congress on 7 April to pass a resolution declaring Argentina’s neutrality in the war regardless of President Milei’s position.[36] Myriam Bregman, Nicolás del Caño, and Christian Castillo, referents and leaders of the traditional leftist parties Socialist Workers’ Party and the broader Workers’ Left Front said that Milei does not represent Argentines and condemned the war and Argentina’s alignment with Israel and the United States.[40] The leader of the Civic Coalition ARI, Elisa Carrió, condemned the “darkness” of President Milei and his sister Karina Milei, calling President Milei a “buffoon of Donald Trump,” whom Carrió labelled as a “madman”.[41] She also criticized Argentina’s unconditional alignment with Israel, calling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the perfect psychopath.”[41]

The party Republican Proposal expressed through its think tank led by María Eugenia Vidal that while it supports President Milei in supporting the United States and Israel, it warned against a carte blanche alignment with those two countries, which could endanger Argentina’s national security, especially of the Jewish Argentine community.[42][43] The chairman of Argentina’s state-owned energy company YPF, Horacio Marín, said that while prices have been affected by the war, Argentina should keep working and remain aligned with the United States because Argentina could become a safe energy provider for the world in case the conflict widens in the Middle East.[44] Marín assured that market rules are important to attract investment in Argentina and profit on the war in Iran.[44] Daniel Dreizzen, the CEO of Aleph Energy, shared and endorsed Marín’s position, assuring that Argentina can become a safe provider of energy amid the war.[45]

Conversely, Carlos Pagni, a journalist for La Nación, wrote that Argentina’s support for the United States, beyond President Milei’s pro-American views, is also influenced by the economic dependence of Argentina on good relations with the United States and the issue of debt and loans, handled by Minister of Economy Luis Caputo with US Secretary of the Treasure Scott Bessent.[46] Pagni criticized Milei and his government for involving Argentina in a war while cutting benefits and social assistance to pensioners and potentially causing a harmful effect on the country’s economy.[46]

Marc Zell, the chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel and vice-chair of Republicans Overseas wrote that Argentina is willing to send ships to assist US troops but that the British government opposes the move because of the issue of the Falkland Islands.[47] Zell added that President Trump should reconsider the US position on the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute, accusing the United Kingdom of taking a “cowardly position” regarding the Iran war.[47]

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed the decision to expel Iran’s charge d’affaires Mohsen Soltan Tehrani, celebrating Argentina’s decision.[48] The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs praised Argentina’s decision to expel the Iranian charge d’affaires, adding that the US “knows who our friends are,” highlighting Argentina’s position throughout the war as “firm” and “unequivocal.”[49][50]

References

  1. ^ Di Santi, Matías (15 January 2015). “Cómo evolucionaron las relaciones comerciales entre la Argentina e Irán”. CHEQUEADO.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  2. ^ Smink, Verónica (12 April 2024). “Argentina confirma responsabilidad de Irán en el caso AMIA: ¿por qué no ha ido a juicio el peor atentado en la historia del país?”. BBC News (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  3. ^ a b “La justicia argentina responsabiliza a Irán y Hezbolá del atentado de 1994 contra la AMIA, que considera un “crimen de lesa humanidad”“. BBC News (in Spanish). 12 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  4. ^ “Cristina en la ONU: otra condena a Irán y reclamo por Malvinas”. Clarín (in Spanish). 24 September 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  5. ^ Rosales, Jorge (24 September 2009). “Cristina Kirchner denunció a Irán en su discurso ante la ONU”. La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  6. ^ “Fuerte repudio en la Asamblea de la ONU al líder iraní”. Sitio Andino (in Spanish). 22 September 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  7. ^ “El Gobierno condenó la designación de dos acusados por el atentado a la AMIA como funcionarios en Irán”. La Nación (in Spanish). 25 August 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  8. ^ “El gobierno condenó la designación en Irán de militar acusado por el ataque a la Amia”. La Capital (in Spanish). 12 August 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  9. ^ “Argentina condenó nombramiento de dos ministros iraníes”. Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). 26 August 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  10. ^ “Argentina designates Hezbollah as terrorist organisation”. BBC News. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  11. ^ Bo, Teresa (19 July 2019). “Argentina designates Hezbollah “terrorist” organisation”. Al Jazeera. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  12. ^ “Qué significa el fin del controvertido pacto de Argentina con Irán para esclarecer el atentado de la AMIA”. BBC News (in Spanish). 15 December 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  13. ^ Tarricone, Manuel (28 August 2022). “A 6 años de la muerte de Nisman: qué pasó con su denuncia y con la causa que investiga su fallecimiento”. CHEQUEADO.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  14. ^ Cué, Carlos E (19 January 2016). “La llegada de Macri impulsa una solución al misterio de Nisman”. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  15. ^ Niebieskikwiat, Natasha (16 July 2020). “Alberto Fernández defendió el Memorándum con Irán por la Causa AMIA”. Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  16. ^ “Candidato argentino Fernández acude a declarar por el pacto con Irán de 2013”. El Nuevo Diario (in Spanish). 10 July 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  17. ^ “Javier Milei expresó su “solidaridad y compromiso inclaudicable” con Israel frente al ataque de Irán”. Infobae (in Spanish). 13 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  18. ^ “Argentina reivindica el ‘derecho a la defensa’ de Israel tras el ataque por parte de Irán”. SWI swissinfo (in Spanish). 2 October 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  19. ^ “Javier Milei y sus medidas, EN VIVO: “La mejor noticia”, el mensaje que reposteó Milei sobre la muerte del líder de Hamas”. Clarín (in Spanish). 18 October 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  20. ^ “Milei celebró el asesinato del jefe de Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah en el Líbano”. La Nación (in Spanish). 28 September 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  21. ^ “Justicia argentina culpa a Irán por atentado contra la AMIA”. Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). 12 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  22. ^ a b Tesei, Patricio (3 April 2026). “El Gobierno expulsó al representante de Irán en Argentina: cronología de un conflicto que crece al ritmo de la guerra”. Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  23. ^ “Milei Stands Out in Latin America by Celebrating U.S.-Israel Attacks on Iran”. The Citizen. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  24. ^ “El Gobierno argentino celebró la muerte de Jamenei”. Página 12 (in Spanish). 28 February 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  25. ^ “Informe desde Buenos Aires: Argentina celebra la muerte de Jamenei y recuerda el atentado a la AMIA”. France 24 (in Spanish). 2 March 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  26. ^ “Argentina celebró la muerte de Alí Jamenei y recordó el atentado contra la AMIA”. BAE Negocios (in Spanish). 28 February 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  27. ^ “Argentina’s Milei says ‘proud to be the most Zionist president in the world’ at Yeshiva University”. The Jerusalem Post. 10 March 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  28. ^ “Milei: ‘I am the most Zionist president in the world’“. Buenos Aires Herald. 10 March 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  29. ^ Idiart, Guillermo (10 March 2026). “Javier Milei llamó “enemigo” a Irán y dijo ser “el presidente más sionista del mundo”“. La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  30. ^ Rosen, Lya (19 March 2026). “Argentina ofrece a Estados Unidos enviar apoyo militar al Golfo Pérsico: “Cualquier ayuda que ellos consideren se darᔓ. La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  31. ^ “Argentina le ofreció a Estados Unidos apoyo militar contra Irán, pero no hay capacidad operativa”. Los Andes (in Spanish). 19 March 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  32. ^ a b “Quirno ratificó el alineamiento con EE.UU. e Israel”. Perfil (in Spanish). 30 March 2026. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  33. ^ “Argentina expels Iran’s charge d’affaires”. Reuters. 2 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  34. ^ “Argentina says Iran’s top diplomat has been expelled from the country”. The Times of Israel. AP. 4 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  35. ^ Alvez, Julián (7 April 2026). ““Apoyo total”: el Gobierno se alinea con Donald Trump a horas de que se termine el ultimátum que amenaza con destruir Irán”. Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  36. ^ a b Ramos, Carolina (6 April 2026). “Guerra. Milei volvió a apoyar a EE.UU. contra Irán: la oposición advirtió que eso lo define el Congreso”. La Voz del Interior (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  37. ^ a b “Javier Milei habló de la guerra en Irán: “Apoyo total y absolutamente el accionar de Estados Unidos e Israel”“. Infobae (in Spanish). 6 April 2026. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  38. ^ a b c “Milei reiteró su respaldo a Israel en la guerra frente a Irán y cuestionó a la comunidad internacional: “Son cobardes”“. Infobae (in Spanish). 16 April 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  39. ^ “Declaración. Javier Milei redobló su ofensiva contra Irán: “Es un enemigo de la Argentina y la comunidad internacional es cobarde”“. La Voz del Interior (in Spanish). 16 April 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  40. ^ “Agresión imperialista. Myriam Bregman ante la amenaza de Trump a Irán: “Milei no habla en nuestro nombre”“. La Izquierda Diario (in Spanish). 7 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  41. ^ a b “Carrió condenó la “oscuridad” del Gobierno y planteó que “Milei es bufón de Trump”“. ANDigital Noticias (in Spanish). 7 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  42. ^ “El PRO advierte a Milei por riesgo de sobreactuar con Irán”. Diario Hoy (in Spanish). 5 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  43. ^ “El PRO avala la línea dura contra Irán, pero advierte a Milei por el riesgo de sobreactuar”. El Destape (in Spanish). 3 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  44. ^ a b “Qué pasará con los precios de la nafta y el gasoil tras la tregua en Irán y la baja del petróleo”. Infobae (in Spanish). 8 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  45. ^ Acuña Heier, Lautaro (10 April 2026). “Daniel Dreizzen: «La guerra en Medio Oriente posiciona a Argentina como un proveedor de energía segura»”. Diario de Río Negro (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  46. ^ a b Pagni, Carlos (8 April 2026). “La sombra de la guerra se proyecta sobre la Argentina de Milei”. La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  47. ^ a b Taglioni, Augusto (18 March 2026). “Preocupación en la Armada porque Quirno no descartó mandar buques a la guerra con Irán”. La Política Online (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  48. ^ “Israel destacó la decisión del gobierno argentino de echar al encargado de negocios de Irán”. La Capital (in Spanish). 3 April 2026. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  49. ^ “Fuerte apoyo de EE.UU. al Gobierno por la expulsión del máximo representante diplomático de Irán”. Todo Noticias (in Spanish). 10 April 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  50. ^ “EU agradece a Argentina “postura de amistad” en conflicto contra Irán”. La Jornada (in Spanish). 10 April 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.