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Moroccan FM Blames Tehran for Deterioration of Ties | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Rabat, Asharq Al-Awsat- Morocco has expressed its rejection of the Iranian reaction to its decision to break off diplomatic relations with Tehran. In this respect, Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi El Fihri says that Iran’s reaction shows that it has mixed up and diluted issues by embroiling questions concerning the Islamic Ummah [the community of Muslims worldwide], especially the Palestinian struggle, in a bilateral problem. Taieb Fassi El Fihri adds in statements to Asharq Al-Awsat that by diluting issues Iran is avoiding its responsibility in the bilateral diplomatic crisis, stressing that Morocco does not understand the Iranian position towards Moroccan national sovereignty and towards the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and therefore the Moroccan Kingdom rejects the Iranian thesis as well as Tehran’s interference in its domestic affairs and sovereign decisions.

Taieb Fassi El Fihri reaffirms that the current problem between Rabat and Tehran is a purely bilateral one, and he holds Tehran responsible for the deterioration of relations between the two countries. He adds that his country accepts lessons from no one on how to defend the issues of the Islamic Ummah, especially the Palestine question. In this connection, Taieb Fassi El Fihri recalls the persisting efforts made by the Moroccan King Mohamed VI, chairman of the Jerusalem Committee. He concludes by saying that Iran has no legitimacy to be the only one to speak in the name of the Islamic Ummah.

For its part, Iran said that it was “surprised” by Morocco’s decision to sever relations between them, that it regretted it, and that this step “would harm the unity of the Islamic world in the current circumstances.”

The Iranian Foreign Ministry further says, in a statement, that “it is surprised by the Moroccan Kingdom breaking off relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” stressing that “Morocco’s accusations that Iran is interfering in its domestic affairs are absolutely groundless, and that Iran completely rejects them.” The Iranian statement adds that Iran “believes that Morocco’s move will harm the unity of the Islamic world in the current sensitive circumstances that require the unity and solidarity of the Islamic countries as a fundamental principle to support the Palestinian people.”