Israel urges UN to impose sanctions on Iran's oil

Meeting with senior officials in the Colombian capital of Bogota on Thursday, Ayalon said Colombia is a strategic partner of Israel in Latin America, adding that it was important that the South American country impose sanctions on Iranian crude "without delay," The Jerusalem Post reported.

The senior Israeli official also called on Colombia to increase its own oil output to prevent a shock to energy markets amid fears that increased sanctions against Iran may lead to a regional crisis that could send oil prices soaring.

Colombia chairs the UN committee that monitors UN sanctions on Iran and Sudan, and is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The US, Israel and their allies have been accusing Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program, and have used the allegation to impose four rounds of UN Security Council sanctions.

Iran has rejected the allegations, saying the nature of its nuclear activities is solely civilian.