Morocco's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Iran seems to have caught Tehran off guard, and the explanations remain rather vague, at least officially. Morocco cited the recent quarrel between Iran and Bahrain, which I discussed last month; but Iran and Bahrain have since patched things up. Morocco was upset when Iran protested its open support for Bahrain, and recalled its charge d'affaires fromTehran in February to protest that, but the Moroccan announcement breaking relatins also spoke of Iranian attempts to "alter the religious fundamentals of the kingdom, to attack the roots of the Moroccan people's ancestral identity." Iran called the charges baseless, but it seems the Moroccans are alleging direct interference with their internal affairs.
Morocco has complained in the past that the Iranian Embassy in Rabat was seeking to spread Shi'ism in the Sunni Kingdom, where the King also claims religious leadership and the title Amir al-Mu'minin or Commander of the Faithful. Morocco seems to be reviving that claim as well as protesting being singled out for criticism by Tehran for its support for Bahrain, when most Arab countries similarly rallied to Bahrain's side.
Coming as it does after Saudi Foreign Minister Sa'ud al-Faisal urged Arab unity in the face of an "Iranian challenge," the Moroccan move -- which seems to be a case of Morocco deliberately picking a fight -- is part of a growing concern about Iran by pro-Western, conservative Arab states. It will be interesting to see if Morocco offers more substantive evidence of its claims of Iranian interference in its internal affairs.
Monday, March 9, 2009
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