Bogota, Colombia – Colombia has formally severed diplomatic relations with Iran, citing national and hemispheric security concerns and alleged links between Tehran and international terrorist and “narco-terrorist” organizations.
The decision took effect on Sept. 19. Colombia said consular relations would remain in place despite the diplomatic rupture.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry said the move was consistent with the country’s foreign policy principles on security and the fight against transnational crime.
“These events have eroded Colombia’s confidence in the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the ministry said.
The government did not identify in its announcement the terrorist or “narco-terrorist” organizations allegedly linked to Iran.
Colombia stressed that ending diplomatic relations did not automatically terminate consular relations under the Vienna conventions on diplomatic and consular relations.
Maintaining consular relations allows the two countries to continue assisting their citizens and handling matters such as travel documents and emergencies even without normal diplomatic engagement.
Colombia and Iran established diplomatic relations on April 28, 1975. Colombia’s embassy in Türkiye has handled relations and consular affairs involving Iran.
The diplomatic break coincided with Colombia’s decision to classify Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
The Colombian government said the group posed a serious threat to international peace and security. It said authorities would strengthen controls to prevent people associated with the organization from entering Colombian territory.
With reports from Xinhua News Agency
