Morocco Welcomes Ceasefire Between the US and Iran
On April 8, 2023, Morocco expressed its approval of the ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran in the early hours of Wednesday. The Moroccan government issued a formal statement urging that the upcoming negotiations in Pakistan take into account the "supreme interests" of the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf. This diplomatic engagement highlights Morocco's commitment to regional stability and its proactive stance in Middle Eastern affairs.
The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the importance of ensuring free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international maritime law. The official statement articulated Morocco's hope that these negotiations will lead to a lasting peace that strengthens regional stability and considers the interests of its Arab Gulf neighbors. Morocco has been vocal in its support for dialogue, particularly with Pakistani mediation, which it believes could pave the way for more constructive relations in the region.
Regional Tensions and Morocco's Position
On the same day that the war broke out on February 28, Morocco condemned in the strongest terms the "flagrant" Iranian missile attacks against several "brotherly" nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. These Arab nations have faced Iranian bombings targeting American bases and facilities on their territories in recent weeks, escalating tensions in the region.
Despite these events, Morocco has refrained from commenting on the American and Israeli attacks against Iran. The country normalized its diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020, but severed ties with Tehran in 2018 after accusing the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah of arming the Polisario Front, with whom Morocco has an ongoing conflict over Western Sahara.
Sunni nations like Morocco and Saudi Arabia criticize Iran for attempting to expand Shiism into traditionally Sunni regions and among Muslim communities in Western countries, seeking political influence. The temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict has significantly impacted fuel prices in Morocco, which authorized a 10% increase in gasoline prices on March 15 to manage the economic fallout.
In response to the rising costs of goods and transportation, the Moroccan government announced on Thursday an injection of 1.648 billion dirhams (approximately 152 million euros) in energy subsidies per month to stabilize prices and protect the purchasing power of its citizens.
As reported by swissinfo.ch.
