Colombia Announces Suspension of Diplomatic Relations with Iran

Colombia announced on Thursday the suspension of its diplomatic relations with Iran, making it the most recent ally of Washington in Latin America to cut ties with a longstanding U.S. rival.

President Gustavo Petro's successor, right-wing leader Iván Duque, has redefined his country's alliances since assuming power on August 7, backed strongly by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Before his inauguration, Duque had pledged to also cut relations with the leftist regimes in Cuba and Nicaragua, though he has not yet taken that step.

His government said on Thursday that the decision to suspend relations with Iran, which took effect on September 19, was based on considerations related to the "national security of the western hemisphere."

The Colombian government accused Tehran of maintaining ties with "terrorist groups involved in drug trafficking and threatening national security," without providing evidence to support these claims, according to AFP.

It also strongly criticized Tehran for obstructing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and attacking other countries in the Middle East as part of its conflict with the United States and Israel.

BoGota stated it would maintain consular relations with Tehran.