Diplomatic Isolation: Another Country Cuts Ties With Iran
US President Donald Trump is tightening the pressure around Iran, extending it from the economic sphere to diplomacy in an effort to increase pressure on Tehran.
Against this backdrop, Colombia announced on Thursday that it was severing diplomatic relations with Iran, becoming the latest Washington ally in Latin America to cut ties with the United States’ longstanding adversary.
Colombia’s new right-wing president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has moved to redefine his country’s alliances since taking office on August 7, succeeding his left-wing predecessor, Gustavo Petro.
The realignment has received strong support from President Trump.
Before his inauguration, De la Espriella also pledged to sever relations with the left-wing governments of Cuba and Nicaragua. However, he has not yet acted on that promise.
His government said the decision to cut diplomatic 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 the country’s security.”
It also strongly criticized Iran for disrupting navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and attacking other Middle Eastern countries as part of its conflict with the United States and Israel.
Bogotá nevertheless said it would maintain consular relations with Tehran.
The announcement comes as approximately 80 countries have condemned attacks by Iran and the Houthis in the region and called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened swiftly.
In a joint statement read at the United Nations by Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, dozens of countries condemned attacks by Iran and its Houthi allies, as well as their disruption of international trade and energy security.
“Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to threaten international security and the rights and freedoms of navigation,” the statement said.
It also strongly condemned “the Houthis’ decision to resume the conflict in Yemen, their continuing strikes against Saudi Arabia and their reckless attacks in the Red Sea.”
In early September, Peru also announced that it was severing diplomatic relations with Tehran.
Lima accused Iran of disrupting international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, escalating conflicts in the Middle East and obstructing the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
