Moroccohas cut diplomatic ties with Iranover its alleged involvement in the delivery of weapons from its Lebanese ally Hezbollahto the Polisario Front, Foreign MinisterNasser Bouritasaid today.
Bourita said "a first shipment of weapons was recently" sent to the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which is seeking independence, via an "element" at the Iranian Embassy In Algiers
"Moroccohas irrefutable proof, names and specific actions to corroborate the complicity between the Polisario and Hezbollah," he told reporters.
The decision to sever ties with Tehranis "in response to Iran's involvement, through Hezbollah, in allying itself with the Polisario over the past two years in order to target the security and higher interests of Morocco".
Bourita was speaking upon his return from Tehran, where he said he informed his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarifabout Morocco's decision.
The Foreign Ministersaid he departed Tehranalong with Morocco's Ambassadorto Iran
"I will ask the Iranian embassy's charge d'affaires to leave the kingdom as soon as possible," Bourita added.
Moroccoand Iranhave had strained relations and severed diplomatic ties in the past, the last time in 2009 when Rabatcut ties with Tehranbut they were restored at the end of 2014.
According to Bourita, Iranand Hezbollahhave had ties with the Polisario Frontsince 2016 when the Lebanese Shiite militant group set up a committee to support the Polisario.
After that, he said, a HezbollahMilitarydelegation visited the Polisario Frontin the Tindouf area in southwest Algeria
The Polisario and Moroccofought for control of Western Saharafrom 1975 to 1991, with Rabattaking over the desert territory before a UN-brokered ceasefire in the former Spanish colony.
Rabatconsiders Western Saharaan integral part of Moroccoand proposes autonomy for the resource-rich territory, but the Polisario Frontinsists on a UN referendum on independence.
On Friday the Un Security Councilbacked a US-drafted resolution that urges Moroccoand the Polisario Frontto prepare for talks on settling the decades-old conflict.
It also renewed for six months the mandate of a UN mission that has been monitoring the ceasefire in Western Saharasince 1991.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have been deadlocked since the last round of UN-sponsored talks in 2008.
Moroccomaintains that negotiations on a settlement should focus on its proposal for autonomy for Western Saharaand rejects the Polisario's insistence on an independence referendum.
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