In a statement released on Friday, the Foreign Ministry said the Colombian government’s move to make baseless accusations against Iran, while simultaneously announcing the severance of diplomatic relations that have a history of more than half a century, is contrary to the “principle of mutual respect” and against the interests and well-being of the two nations.

“It is clear that none of the claims raised by the Colombian government to justify this decision is justified or logical, and the decision was made solely under the influence of the Zionist regime and the United States,” it added.

“The Colombian government, which, according to undeniable documents and evidence, has been heavily influenced by drug production and distribution cartels and is effectively considered part of the ominous network of narco-terrorism in the Americas and beyond, is in no position whatsoever to lecture others about terrorism and drugs,” the Foreign Ministry underlined.

The statement noted that such “hypocritical diversion of blame” cannot relieve the Colombian government of its international responsibility for participating in the trafficking of large consignments of drugs to various parts of the world, including Iran.

“The seizure of a 55-kilogram shipment of pure Colombian cocaine in Tehran in late September, which had been directly smuggled into Iran by a network linked to influential individuals in Colombia, is one of the latest cases of transnational organized crime attributed to the Colombian government,” the statement added.

The Foreign Ministry said the relevant Colombian government authorities were expected to, instead of reacting hastily to this issue, would cooperate within the framework of their international legal obligations to identify the main elements involved in trafficking this shipment and similar shipments to Iran and other countries in the region.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will take the necessary measures in dealing with this unjustified and hostile approach by the Colombian government in order to safeguard its national interests,” it underscored.