Iran Focus

London, 10 May – The Arab world was concerned over the recent emergence of an Iranian embassy in Algeria, but the arrival of Amir Mousavi, believed to be an Iranian intelligence agent, who intended to interfere in the dispute between Algeria and Morocco over the Western Sahara conflict, led Morocco to cut diplomatic relations with Tehran.

Morocco controls about 90 per cent of the Western Sahara territory, where the Algerian-backed Polisario have been fighting a protracted guerrilla war against Moroccan security forces. Irrefutable evidence reportedly proved that shipments of weapons, which included surface-to-air missiles, comprising of SAM9, SAM22 and Strela shoulder-launched missiles, had been sent via Iran’s Lebanese proxy Hezbollah. As well, members of the Polisario, are allegedly being trained in urban warfare at a military base in Tindouf, Algeria, where they are being taught how to use ground-air rocket systems.

Iran Focus

London, 10 May – The Iran-backed Houthis fired several ballistic missiles at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, but, luckily, these were intercepted by the kingdom’s missile defence systems and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

This attack came only one day after the US – Saudi Arabia’s top Western ally – withdrew from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, which could mean that Iran may well target US allies and interests in the Middle East in retaliation.

The Iran-backed Houthis, who control the majority of Yemen since their takeover in 2014, reported that the missiles were aimed at economic targets in Riyadh. They have fired a series of ballistic missiles, at least some of which are proven by the UN to be Iranian-made, at Saudi Arabia in the past year.

Iran Focus

London, 8 May – The Arab Gulf countries have rallied behind Morocco after it severed its diplomatic ties with Iran, shortly after the North African state accused the Iranian mullahs of supporting the Algeria-backed Polisario Front in Western Sahara.

The separatist movement, which the Regime is reported to have trained, funded, and armed, reportedly sent fighters to UN-monitored buffer zones.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates all voiced their support for Morroco’s decision, shortly after Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita announced that the Polisario Front had recently received “a first shipment” of weapons via an “element” at the Iranian Embassy in Algeria.