U.S. continues listing Iran onto state sponsors of terrorism

Iran remained the "most active" state sponsor of terrorism, and its support for terrorist and militant groups throughout the Middle East and Central Asia had a "direct impact" on international efforts for peace and stability, said the United States on Thursday.

As it has done in the past years, in the annual country reports on terrorism, U.S. State Department continues listing Iran onto the blacklist of the State Sponsors of Terrorism, which it accuses of providing "critical support to many non-state terrorist groups. "

In the report, the United States accuses Tehran, through the Qods Forces, the external operations branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, of "cultivating and supporting terrorists abroad," including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and Taliban.

The report also slams the Iranian government of destroying Iraq 's stability by continuing to provide "lethal support, including weapons, training, funding, and guidance," to Iraqi Shia militant groups that targeted U.S. and Iraqi forces.

The United States has regarded Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism for 26 years. Cuba, Sudan and Syria also remain onto the blacklist.

"Without state sponsors, these groups would have greater difficulty obtaining the funds, weapons, materials, and secure areas they require to plan and conduct operations. The United States will continue to insist that these countries end the support they give to terrorist groups," said the report.


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