Colombia Severs Diplomatic Ties With Iran — Tehran: “Unjustified Decision Under U.S. and Israeli Pressure”

Colombia has severed diplomatic ties with Iran, becoming one of the first Latin American states to take such a drastic step against Tehran since the start of the U.S.–Iran war. Bogotá said the decision was made taking into account “foreign policy priorities, including the fight against transnational crime and the protection of national security.”

In its announcement, Colombia cited “confirmed human rights violations, verified attacks against countries not involved in the Middle East conflict, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz” and the “obstruction” by Iranian authorities of international inspections of the nuclear program.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the claims as “baseless” and accused Colombia of making the “unjustified” decision under pressure from the U.S. and Israel. Tehran added that Colombia “is in no position to preach about terrorism and drugs” given its own problems with drug production and cartels.

Bogotá’s decision comes amid a wave of diplomatic isolation of Iran on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where Tehran is seeking a way out of the war through intermediaries while Washington tightens sanctions and the blockade, as Al Jazeera reports.