Colombia Severed Its Diplomatic Ties With Iran and Accused It of Links to Terror Groups

Colombia's government formally announced the severance of diplomatic ties with Iran, a decision that took effect retroactively from Sept. 19 amid concerns over Tehran's ties with terror organizations and international crime.

According to the report, Bogota's statement indicated the decision is based on Colombia's new foreign policy regarding national security and combating international crime, as Colombia's government accused Tehran of maintaining ties with international terror organizations. The Foreign Ministry in Bogota also cited the Iranian regime's human rights violations, the blockade of shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz and the failure of IAEA oversight of the Iranian nuclear program. Colombia and Iran had maintained continuous diplomatic relations since 1975, but these weakened following President de la Espriella's rise to power.

De la Espriella, who was elected to his post and sworn in recently, led an overhaul of Colombia's foreign policy toward the Middle East, and even before taking office, he vowed to reverse the decision of his predecessor Gustavo Petro, who severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2024. Last July, de la Espriella kept his promise, as Israel and Colombia formally announced the full restoration of diplomatic ties between them, along with an agreement to open a Colombian embassy in Jerusalem.