US and 9 Allies Accuse Iran of Lethal Plots in Americas
SECURITY · LATIN AMERICA
Key Facts
- —The country Ten governments of the Americas: the United States, Canada, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago. Brazil and Mexico did not sign.
- —Why it matters Washington has been at war with Iran since 28 February. The ten now say Iran and its proxies are plotting lethal attacks and raising money in this hemisphere.
- —Why now It follows a US and Paraguay counter-terrorism forum in September and a run of national steps, including Colombia cutting diplomatic ties with Iran from 19 September.
- —What happened On Monday 5 October the State Department published the joint statement of 10 governments, telling Iran and its proxies to “halt these actions now”.
- —What it means for you No sanctions, travel warnings or named cases were announced. Costa Rica and Colombia had already promised tighter border and entry controls against people linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
- —Still open Which “further measures” the signatories will take, and which plots they mean. The text names no attack, country or person.
The United States and nine governments in the Americas accused Iran on Monday of “lethal plotting” and covert influence operations across the Western Hemisphere. The Iran joint statement, published by the US State Department on 5 October, was signed by Canada, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago.
For Americans the timing matters. Washington and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on 28 February, according to La Nación and Infobae, and the war is not over. The statement tells Tehran that much of the region now treats Iranian activity close to the United States as a shared security problem.
It is also a statement of intent rather than a list of cases. It names no attack, suspect or target country, and it announces no sanctions.
What the Ten Governments Said
The text condemns “terrorist actions and other malign influence operations in our hemisphere by Iran and its terrorist proxies”. It lists lethal plotting, illicit fundraising, political interference and foreign influence activities.
It also cites operations meant to bolster terrorist networks, coerce perceived enemies and “compromise legal or administrative processes”. “The Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies must halt these actions now,” the signatories wrote.
They pledged “further measures” and closer coordination, without saying what those would be. No public response from Iran had been reported by Tuesday morning.
The State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, tied the statement to the Countering Transnational Terrorism Forum. The United States and Paraguay co-hosted that meeting last month to improve police cooperation against Iranian networks. Infobae reports it was held in Asunción on 16 and 17 September.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is the elite military and ideological force of the Iranian state. Its Quds Force runs operations abroad. Hezbollah is the Lebanese Shia party and militia that Iran arms and funds.
Costa Rica and the Regional Shift
Costa Rica’s signature is the newest step in a line it began in April. On 8 April the government of then President Rodrigo Chaves declared the IRGC, Hezbollah, Hamas and Yemen’s Houthi movement terrorist organisations.
Security Minister Mario Zamora said then that the label would help keep people linked to those groups out of the country and their money out of its banks. Delfino, the Costa Rican news site, noted on Monday that the joint statement cites no case involving any signatory.
Colombia moved further. Its foreign ministry said it formally broke diplomatic relations with Iran from 19 September, citing alleged links between Tehran and terrorist and “narco-terrorist” groups. It also declared the IRGC a terrorist group. The government of President Abelardo de la Espriella kept consular relations open.
Argentina, under libertarian President Javier Milei, designated the IRGC a terrorist organisation in March. Argentine courts blame Iran and Hezbollah for the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish centre in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people. Paraguay listed the IRGC in 2025, according to Infobae.
Two large economies are missing. Brazil and Mexico did not sign, Infobae noted. No reason was given for their absence.
What It Means for You
For travellers, nothing changes today. The Iran joint statement carries no new travel advisory, visa rule or alert for any country.
For people and companies with links to Iran, the signal is tighter scrutiny. Costa Rica and Colombia have both promised stronger entry checks, and Costa Rica added checks on capital entering its banks.
For investors, the statement adds no sanctions and names no firms. The practical risk sits with compliance teams, which may face more questions on payments that touch Iranian or Hezbollah-linked networks.
The calmer reading: governments are coordinating more, not reacting to a fresh attack. The statement cites no new incident.
Earlier coverage: Colombia Severs Diplomatic Relations with Iran Over Terrorism Links and Argentina Charges Eight Over the 1994 AMIA Jewish Centre Bombing.
What Is Not Known
The signatories did not say which plots they mean, where they were found, or whether anyone has been arrested over them.
It is not known what the promised “further measures” will be, or when. Nor is it clear whether more governments will sign later.
Brazil and Mexico have not said why they stayed out. Iran’s response, if any, was not yet public on Tuesday morning.
Which countries signed the Iran joint statement?
The United States, Canada, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago. The State Department published it on Monday 5 October. Brazil and Mexico did not sign.
Does the statement name any specific attack or suspect?
No. It condemns lethal plotting, illicit fundraising and political interference by Iran and its proxies, but it cites no attack, country or person, and it announces no sanctions.
Is it safe to travel to the signatory countries?
The statement brings no new travel advisory or visa rule. Travellers should follow their own government’s advisories, which were not changed by Monday’s text.
Sources: US Department of State, joint statement, 5 October 2026; Colombia Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Colombia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IRGC designation; Delfino.cr; Delfino.cr, April 2026; Infobae; La Nación; Bloomberg Línea.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief