Iran strongly condemns Colombian accusations against armed forces, severance of ties
Tehran - BORNA - In an official statement issued on Friday, the foreign ministry dismissed Bogota's claims, describing the unilateral termination of bilateral ties as contrary to the principle of mutual respect and detrimental to the long-term interests of both nations.
"It is evident that none of the allegations raised by the Colombian government to justify this decision hold any validity or logic; this measure was adopted purely under the influence of the United States and the Zionist regime," the statement read.
Rejecting Bogota’s accusations, the ministry asserted that the Colombian government lacks the moral standing to lecture other nations on terrorism or counternarcotics.
"The Colombian government, which according to undeniable documentation remains heavily compromised by illicit narcotics syndicates and effectively functions as part of a narco-terrorism network across the Americas and beyond, is in no position to preach to others on terrorism and narcotics," the ministry noted.
The statement emphasized that "hypocritical projections" cannot absolve Bogota of its international responsibility regarding the trafficking of large-scale drug shipments globally, pointing to the seizure of a 55-kilogram shipment of pure Colombian cocaine in Tehran in late September. Tehran stated that the illicit cargo was smuggled directly into the country by a network linked to influential Colombian figures.
"The relevant Colombian authorities were expected to cooperate within the framework of their international legal obligations to identify the primary perpetrators involved in smuggling this and similar shipments to Iran and the wider region, rather than resorting to hasty political reactions," the statement added.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran will take appropriate and necessary reciprocal measures in response to this unjustified and hostile posture by the Colombian government in order to safeguard its national interests," the statement concluded.
The diplomatic rupture follows the inauguration of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, whose administration has aligned Bogota’s foreign policy closely with Washington and Tel Aviv. The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously issued a decree severing ties effective September 19, citing national and hemispheric security concerns, alleged connections to transnational networks, human rights issues, maritime transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, and disputes surrounding International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections.
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