Iran Named Top State Sponsor of Terrorism by U.S. for 39th Year, Supports Attacks on U.S. Forces

Dec 13, 2024, 04:51 PM

The U.S. State Department's 2023 Country Reports on Terrorism identified Iran as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism for the 39th consecutive year, accusing Tehran of facilitating a wide range of terrorist and other illicit activities in the United States and globally. Iran has been actively supporting terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, providing them with funding, training, weapons, and equipment. The report highlighted Iran's role in destabilizing the Middle East through its proxies and partner groups, including attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, and disrupting maritime commerce in the Red Sea. Iran also continued to plot attacks against dissidents and other perceived enemies abroad, including an assassination attempt on an Iranian dissident in New York City and targeting Israeli and Jewish individuals in Cyprus. Following Hamas's October 7 attacks on Israel, Iranian-backed groups exploited the conflict to advance their objectives. The report further noted Iran's support for al-Qa’ida, allowing its facilitators to operate a transit pipeline through Iran since at least 2009.