The Largest Terrorist
organization in the world

Iran stands as one of the most formidable and dangerous state sponsors of terrorism in the world. This distinction comes from its support and orchestration of numerous militant and terrorist groups across the Middle East, which serve as proxies in its aggressive regional agenda. The Iranian regime’s ideological and material backing has nurtured and empowered organizations like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militias in Iraq and Syria. These groups act as extensions of Iran’s military and ideological goals, wreaking havoc across the region and targeting both Israeli civilians and global interests.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), especially its Quds Force, plays a central role in Iran’s exportation of terrorism. The IRGC-Quds Force is tasked with directing and funding Iran’s vast terrorist network, orchestrating acts of violence that destabilize regions and undermine governments opposed to Tehran’s influence. Through its proxies, Iran has created a network that enables it to wage asymmetrical warfare and carry out terrorism while maintaining a layer of deniability.

Iran Supports

Hamas Terror OrganizationHamas
Hezbollah Terror Organization FlagHezbollah
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Iraq
Iraq
Syria
The Islamic Republic of Iran: A Terrorist RegimeIRGC
Houthi Terror Organization Flag
Houthi

The Architect of Global Terrorism

Iran has earned its reputation as the architect of global terrorism through its unparalleled role in sponsoring and directing terrorist organizations across the Middle East and beyond. Utilizing a network of proxies, Iran has extended its influence far beyond its borders, destabilizing governments, inciting conflict, and orchestrating violence against civilians on multiple continents. The Iranian regime, through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and specifically the Quds Force, is responsible for funding, arming, and training an array of militant groups that carry out its agenda of regional dominance and anti-Western aggression.

Iran’s Proxies and Their Global Reach

Iran’s global network of terrorist proxies includes some of the most dangerous and well-armed groups in the world. Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Houthis are just a few examples of organizations that have been nurtured by Iran’s financial and military support. These groups, though primarily based in the Middle East, have conducted terrorist operations globally, with targets ranging from American soldiers and Israeli civilians to political dissidents and international interests.

Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful proxy, is a prime example of its reach. Based in Lebanon, Hezbollah has grown into a heavily armed militant organization capable of launching rocket barrages at Israel, while also engaging in activities such as arms trafficking, money laundering, and assassinations across the globe. Hezbollah has been linked to terrorist attacks in Europe, South America, and Africa, highlighting its global operational capacity under Iranian sponsorship.

The Houthis in Yemen, another Iranian-backed group, have engaged in missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, even threatening Israeli and international shipping in the Red Sea. Their campaign of terror, fueled by Iranian weapons and training, has not only devastated Yemen but also threatened regional security, drawing in major international powers.

Destabilizing the Region Through Violence

One of Iran’s most significant tactics is destabilizing its neighbors by exporting violence and conflict. Through its support for terrorist organizations, Iran seeks to create instability in nations like Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon, weakening governments that oppose its influence. In Syria, for instance, Iran has sent thousands of fighters from groups like Liwa Fatemiyoun and Liwa Zainabiyoun—Shia militias recruited from Afghanistan and Pakistan—to prop up the Assad regime. This not only extends Iran’s influence but also deepens sectarian divides, fueling further violence.

In Iraq, Iranian-backed militias such as Kata’ib Hezbollah and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq have attacked U.S. forces, undermined the Iraqi government, and contributed to sectarian violence. Iran’s goal is to dominate Iraq politically and militarily, turning it into a client state that furthers Tehran’s ambitions in the region.

Global Terrorism Beyond the Middle East

Iran’s malign influence extends well beyond the borders of the Middle East. Through Hezbollah and other proxies, Iran has carried out or attempted terrorist attacks in Europe, Africa, and Latin America. One of the most infamous examples is the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, an attack orchestrated by Hezbollah with direct backing from Iran. Additionally, Hezbollah’s global criminal enterprises fund its terror activities, involving everything from drug trafficking to money laundering, with operations stretching across continents.

Moreover, Iran engages in cyberterrorism, employing advanced cyberattacks on targets such as critical infrastructure in the U.S. and Israel. This digital front is another arena in which Iran uses asymmetric warfare to advance its aims without direct military confrontation.

Iran’s global terrorism apparatus also includes assassinations and kidnappings of political dissidents, journalists, and former regime critics. Iranian operatives have been caught or suspected of planning and executing such operations in Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East. These acts are a chilling reminder of how Iran uses terrorism not just as a weapon of war but as a means of silencing opposition wherever it arises.

A Threat to Global Security

The influence Iran wields through its proxies is not just a regional problem; it is a global threat. By fostering and directing terror groups with international reach, Iran has proven that it is the world’s foremost architect of terrorism. Its long-term goal of exporting its revolutionary ideology, destroying Israel, and driving Western influence out of the Middle East remains central to its strategic ambitions.

Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities further compounds this threat. With nuclear weapons, Iran could provide even more substantial backing to its terrorist proxies, emboldening them and allowing Tehran to exert more aggressive influence over the region and beyond.

Iran

Ideology

Iran’s state ideology is rooted in its revolutionary Shia Islamist doctrine, which seeks to export the Islamic Revolution beyond its borders. The regime views itself as the vanguard of a global Islamic movement, aiming to establish Shia dominance and undermine Western, Israeli, and Sunni Arab influence. Iran’s leadership, guided by the principle of Vilayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), justifies its support for terrorism as a form of resistance against perceived oppressors, particularly Israel and the United States. The exportation of its revolution is a central tenet of its foreign policy, using proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas to extend its influence across the Middle East.

Official Flag

The Islamic Republic of Iran: A Terrorist Regime
IRGC

Order of Battle

Iran’s military order of battle is dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly its Quds Force, which is tasked with conducting operations outside of Iran and overseeing its terrorist networks. The IRGC also commands a variety of militias and paramilitary groups in countries like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. Iran’s proxy groups, such as Hezbollah and the Houthis, operate under this structure, functioning as irregular forces that act in concert with or independently of Iran’s conventional military. This gives Iran asymmetric warfare capabilities across multiple fronts, allowing it to engage in both direct and proxy wars simultaneously.

Budget

Iran allocates significant resources to its support of terrorism and military expansionism, despite economic challenges. Estimates suggest that Iran provides Hezbollah alone with upwards of $700 million annually, with additional millions funneled to Hamas, the Houthis, and various Iraqi militias. The IRGC, which receives a large portion of Iran’s defense budget, directly finances these groups. Though Iran faces sanctions that limit its overall economy, it prioritizes spending on its military and its terrorist proxies as tools to project power. Reports indicate that Iran’s overall military budget is around $20 billion, with much of it dedicated to these extraterritorial operations.

Arsenal

Iran has developed a vast and sophisticated arsenal that includes ballistic missiles, drones, and advanced weaponry, much of which is shared with its proxies. It possesses a range of short- to medium-range missiles, like the Shahab and Fateh series, capable of reaching Israel and U.S. bases in the region. Iran’s drone technology has been widely deployed in conflicts in Yemen and Iraq, with the Houthis using Iranian-made drones to strike Saudi targets. Additionally, Iran has supplied its proxies with thousands of rockets and guided missiles, particularly to Hezbollah, which maintains one of the largest non-state arsenals in the world. This allows Iran to wage asymmetric warfare while threatening regional stability.

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