"The decision to cut off diplomatic relations with Iran is a sovereign decision taken within a bilateral framework and based on concrete evidence," said Moroccan government spokesman Mustapha El Khalfi.
Speaking at a press conference held after the government's weekly meeting in Rabat, Khalfi said that the boycott decision premeditated and was preceded by a visit by the Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to Tehran.
In his visit, Bourita met with Iranian counterpart Jawad Zarif. The Moroccan top diplomat discussed overwhelming evidence on Tehran-sponsored proxy, Hezbollah, being involved in supporting the Polisario Front, a Western Sahara independence movement.
“Two years ago, a committee was established in the name of protecting the Sahrawi people, with defense from the Lebanese Hezbollah,” said Khalfi.
“March 2017 witnessed unprecedented developments--which were the subject of dialogue and evidence revelations-- and we have taken the time to put it back under control,” he said, adding that these measures came after procuring three clear-cut pieces of evidence proving Hezbollah’s involvement in supporting the Polisario Front.
Hezbollah explosives and military experts visited Polisario camps in Tindouf and trained combatants on guerrilla warfare.
The piece of second evidence, according to Khalfi, is what he also labeled as “the most dangerous development,” which was the "delivery of arms shipments by Hezbollah leaders to armed Polisario militias.”
Khalfi said the shipments consisted of surface to air missiles.
Thirdly, a member of the Iranian Embassy in Algeria, who holds a diplomatic passport, is believed to be heavily involved in organizing operations.
The Iranian embassy worker is said to have enabled the facilitation of contacts and meetings, and unlocking logistic facilities for Hezbollah military officials to head to Tindouf, and meet up with Polisario members.
Khalfi added that Morocco, before taking the decision to cut ties with Iran, “confronted Tehran with this evidence-- but received no refutation.”
“It cannot be said that Iran is not aware of all this,” Khalfi said.
He also stressed that the decision is not against the Iranian or Lebanese people.
