In its latest annual assessment of worldwide terrorism, the U.S. State Department once again determined that “the Islamic Republic of Iran retained its standing as the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism.” The finding is published in the “Country Reports on Terrorism 2018,” and has remained consistent since 1984.
During the report’s release in Washington D.C., the Coordinator on Counterterrorism highlighted Tehran’s expenditure in support of terrorist groups that promote Tehran’s malfeasance across the Middle East. According to Ambassador Nathan Sales, “The regime, often through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, has spent nearly a billion dollars a year to support terrorist groups that serve as its proxies and promote its malign influence around the region – groups like Hezbollah and Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.”
The Counterterrorism Coordinator also pointed to the growing threat posed by the Islamic Republic beyond the region, citing its bolstered efforts to assert dominance throughout Europe. He then emphasized that “Countering Iran-backed terrorism is and has been a top priority for this administration,” adding “That’s why in December of 2018 we hosted the first ever Western Hemisphere Counterterrorism Ministerial to focus on threats close to home, particularly the threats posed by Hezbollah, Iran’s terrorist proxy.”