Morocco Says Iran Working on Destabilizing North, West Africa

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said on Thursday that Iran was acting through its proxies to destabilize the African region and threaten the territorial integrity of Morocco.

“People know more about Iran's nuclear activities, but Iran is also acting through proxies to destabilize North and West Africa,” the FM said in an interview with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) TV channel, on the sidelines of its annual meeting.

Bourita stressed that Iran threatens the territorial integrity of Morocco and its security by supporting the Polisario through providing it with arms and training its militia to attack Morocco, recalling that Iran is expanding its influence through Hezbollah.

“Iran’s activities in West Africa are damaging the moderate Islam that Morocco has been promoting for centuries in this region and connecting with some proxies, including militant non-state actors,” he said.

He noted that currently, Morocco is vigilant of the threats that Iran presents to the security of the Moroccan people.

Separately, he stressed that the Sahara issue is “crucial for Morocco. Its territorial integrity is the key to its stability.”

Commenting on relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv, Bourita said the renewal of diplomatic relations is a response to a double appeal: a call from the Moroccan Jewish community, eager to deepen its relationship with Morocco, but also a call for peace and the development of the original dynamic, conducive to a lasting peace in the Middle East.

“King Mohammed VI said that Morocco's decision in December was not an opportunistic one. It is a natural decision due to its ties with its Jewish community and to the historic involvement of Morocco in peace,” he stressed.

Concerning the Palestinian cause, Bourita said regional stability is very important to promote peace between Israel and Palestine,

Rabat, he continued, has played a pioneering role in the peace process in the Middle East and it is today also ready to contribute to it.

"We hope that all efforts will be made from all sides, including on the part of Israel, to promote genuine peace, a peace which will preserve Israel's security and stability of its people, but which also allows Palestinians to enjoy their rights,” he said.