Iran Condemns France’s Stance on Western Sahara, Escalating Regional Tensions
Iran has sharply criticized France’s recent decision to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a disputed territory at the heart of a decades-long conflict. This criticism, voiced through Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, highlights the escalating tensions surrounding the Western Sahara issue and the involvement of international actors.
Morteza Maki, a member of the Iranian council, labeled France’s shift in policy as a concerning development, suggesting it reflects a broader change in the positions of both regional and global players. This statement underscores Iran’s perception of the situation as a strategic battleground, with implications extending far beyond the immediate region.
The Western Sahara conflict, rooted in Spain’s withdrawal from the territory in 1975, has seen Morocco and the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi independence movement, locked in a struggle for control. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, seeks a referendum on self-determination, a solution supported by the United Nations but consistently blocked by Morocco.
France’s historical ties with Morocco and its growing economic interests in the region are likely factors influencing its stance. However, Iran views this support for Morocco’s autonomy plan, which would see Western Sahara integrated into Morocco but with some degree of self-governance, as a provocation and a departure from international law.
This latest development further complicates the already intricate geopolitical landscape of North Africa. It also highlights the growing rivalry between Iran and France, two countries with diverging interests in the Middle East and North Africa.
The international community continues to grapple with finding a lasting solution to the Western Sahara conflict. The involvement of powerful actors like France and Iran, with their own strategic agendas, adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation.
