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With geopolitical tensions rising and the need to strengthen national cohesion, it is essential to revisit a question often overlooked in Arab discourse: does genuine resistance entail supporting any project hostile to Israel, even if it undermines statehood and encourages separatism?

It is time to examine Iran’s regional role with clear eyes, free from ideological bias. Iran is no longer merely opposing the West—it has become a central force destabilizing Arab and Maghreb countries, including Morocco.

• Morocco wins battle to isolate Polisario internationally

• Polisario Leader Returns to Algeria after Spain-Morocco Row

Expanding Soft Power’s Sharp Edge in North Africa

Iran’s influence is no longer confined to the Levant. Over recent years, Tehran has silently extended its reach into North Africa through:

• Cultural and religious associations propagating Shiism under the guise of charity. 
• Maghreb personalities recruited into pro-Iran ideological networks. 
• Societal infiltration via religious education and “dawah” missions to Qom and Mashhad. 

Morocco and its neighbours represent a strategic domain for Iran: a demographic stronghold and the last barrier against sectarianism. Thus, Iran is playing a patient, long-term game of covert infiltration.

• Explode the Polisario’s allegations … The launch of the Dialogue Forum in Dakhla, Morocco

• The Atlantic initiative enhances Morocco’s chances in competition with Turkey and Iran

From Ideological Support to Arming Secessionists

In 2018, Morocco made a decisive sovereign move by severing ties with Iran. This decision was based on documented evidence indicating that Hezbollah—backed by Tehran—had trained and armed members of the Polisario Front. This clandestine support revealed Iran’s true agenda: not only “freeing Palestine,” but undermining state sovereignty across the region.

Resistance for Whom, and Against Whom?

A major flaw in the pro-Iran narrative is the unconditional alignment with anyone opposed to Israel—even if that actor is fragmenting Arab nations through sectarianism or separatism.

• An Algerian-Iranian rapprochement on the verge of discord and tensions with Morocco

• A Test of Sovereignty: Iran’s Support for the Polisario Reveals the True Nature of Tehran’s Maghreb Policy

In Lebanon, “resistance” has become a tool for Tehran. In Iraq, Shiite militias tied to the Revolutionary Guard dominate national policy. In Syria, horrific massacres were committed in the name of that axis. And in Yemen, Iran-backed Houthis are tearing society apart.

In Morocco, Iran’s ideological strategy sought to weaken national unity via a separatist foothold, mirroring southern Yemen or Beirut’s southern suburbs.

• Human rights organizations denounce the recruitment and political exploitation of children in the Tindouf camps

• Signs of Tension between Turkey and Algeria Over Participation of ‘Separatist’ Kurds in a Tindouf Conference

Sovereignty: The Red Line

This is not an intellectual debate: supporting an external project that undermines territorial integrity is complicity. No cloak of resistance or anti-imperialism can excuse threats to sovereignty, which is non-negotiable.

A patriot’s true measure lies in defending sovereignty, not echoing foreign slogans. Morocco stands firm, united in rejecting any foreign intrusion—whether Western or Eastern, religious or political.

• Morocco Strengthens Broader Military Cooperation with Gulf States

• Morocco Strengthens Connectivity with Sub-Saharan Africa through a Maritime Line between Agadir and Dakar

Redefining the Real Enemy

The true enemy is not just a foreign attacker but:

• Whoever threatens unity and borders, 
• Whoever finances internal destabilization, 
• Whoever twists the rhetoric of resistance to sow discord. 

Iran, through its disruptive actions, must not be regarded as a friend or even neutral. Its aim is clear: to impose a sectarian model at odds with Moroccan identity and sovereignty.

Morocco will never compromise its unity. Grounded in its anti-colonial legacy, the nation cannot allow its territory or social fabric to become testing grounds for a sectarian ideology masquerading as resistance.

• Morocco’s Recognition of the Sahara’s Sovereignty: A Precondition for Normalization with Iran

• Extension of MINURSO Mission: Diplomatic Victory for Morocco and Setback for Algeria

• Morocco responds to the European Court of Justice: No agreement will be accepted if it does not fully respect our sovereignty