Colombia's new US-backed government cuts ties with Iran
BOGOTA: Colombia said Thursday it had cut diplomatic ties with Iran, the latest Washington ally in Latin America to sever links with the US arch-foe.
Colombia severed diplomatic ties with Iran on September 19, 2022, in a move backed by the United States and led by the country's newly elected right-wing president, Abelardo de la Espriella. This action follows the dismissal of his leftist predecessor, Gustavo Petro, on August 7, 2022. De la Espriella's administration cited national security concerns as the reason for the severed ties, alleging that Iran harbors ties with narcoterrorist groups endangering Colombia's security.
However, no proof was provided to substantiate these claims. Tehran was additionally criticized for impeding traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and engaging in conflicts in the Middle East, particularly in its ongoing struggle against the United States and Israel. Despite the severing of ties, Colombia announced it would retain consular relations with Iran.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Colombia Breaks Diplomatic Relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran colombiaone.com
- Iran, the diplomatic offensive, and a surprise in PM's speech israelnationalnews.com
