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Colombia announced on Thursday the severing of diplomatic relations with Iran, becoming the latest ally of Washington in Latin America to cut ties with the United States' long-time foe.
The new Colombian President, right-wing Abelardo de la Espriella, has been reshaping his country's alliances since taking office on August 7, succeeding his leftist predecessor Gustavo Petro, with strong support from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Before his inauguration, de la Espriella had pledged to also cut ties with the leftist regimes of Cuba and Nicaragua, although he has not yet taken this step.
His government stated on Thursday that the decision to sever ties with Iran, which came into effect on September 19, was based on considerations related to the 'national security of the Western Hemisphere'.
The Colombian government accused Tehran of maintaining relations with 'terrorist groups involved in drug trafficking and threatening the country's security', without providing evidence to support these allegations.
The government also strongly criticized Tehran for obstructing navigation 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 indicated that it would maintain consular relations with Tehran.
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