The Colombian government announced on Thursday that it has formally severed diplomatic relations with Iran. According to the Colombian Foreign Ministry, the decision was driven by "national and hemispheric security concerns" and took effect on Saturday.

In its official statement, the Colombian government cited several reasons for the diplomatic break. Officials pointed to what they described as a deterioration of the situation in Tehran, as well as verified human rights violations. Furthermore, the ministry accused Iran of maintaining links to international terrorist and narcoterrorist organizations. The government also noted that it considered reports of Iranian-backed attacks against countries not involved in the Middle East conflict when making the decision.

This move marks a significant shift in Colombia’s foreign policy. While the Colombian government has been clear about its motivations, the Iranian government has not yet issued a formal response to the severance of ties. The diplomatic rupture highlights ongoing tensions regarding Iran's influence in the Western Hemisphere and Colombia's alignment with international security concerns.